Ronald Bilodeau, born on March 16, 1943, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2026, in Ottawa after a short illness. He was predeceased by his parents, Harold Bilodeau and Clairette Bilodeau (Hébert), and by his beloved wife, Suzanne Bilodeau. He leaves behind his four children: Annick, Catherine (Chad Lawrence) , Valérie, and Alexandre (Laura Giannantonio), as well as six grandchildren, Frédérique Lalonde (Greg Boychuk), Virginie Lalonde, Justin Lalonde, Olivier Amiot, Zachary Amiot, and William Amiot; his sister-in-law, Lise Laviolette; his brother-in-law, Marc Vézina; his nieces, Caroline Vézina (Vincent Cutillas) and Maxine Vézina; his great-grandniece Stella and his great-granddaughter, Ellie, who brought him immense pride and joy.
Ronald dedicated his life to the Federal Public Service of Canada, earning deep respect throughout the federal government for his integrity, sound judgement, and calm leadership. Over a distinguished career, he served in several senior roles within the Privy Council Office and contributed to many of Canada’s defining national challenges and events, including intergovernmental affairs during the period surrounding the Quebec referendum, the Gulf War, the negotiation of NAFTA, major national emergencies such as the Saguenay flood, the Manitoba floods and the 1998 Ice Storm, and later Canada’s evolving national security framework.
Following his public service career, Ronald continued contributing to Canadian public life through leadership roles at Canadian Pacific Railway, The Parliamentary Group, and Montfort Hospital, where he remained a valued advisor and community leader.
When he was not attending meetings or conferences, Ronald could often be found enjoying a good book, maintaining his property on his beloved John Deere tractor, or sharing a leisurely lunch or dinner with family and friends. He also cherished travelling the world with those closest to him, creating memories that will be treasured for years to come.
Ronald will be remembered for his integrity, wisdom, quiet humility, witty sense of humor and unwavering devotion to his family and his country. His legacy lives on in the institutions he helped strengthen, the colleagues he mentored, and the family he cherished above all else.
A celebration of Ronald’s life will be held at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A private interment will have taken place beforehand.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Ottawa Hospital, whose staff provided exceptional care during his final days, or to Bruyère Health’s Saint-Vincent Hospital.
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