Hockey lover, ‘Frenglish’ speaker, Brother Raymond Deschênes devoted his life to helping others

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Hockey lover, ‘Frenglish’ speaker, Brother Raymond Deschênes devoted his life to helping others

Raymond Deschênes, Oblate brother. Uncle. Caretaker. Caregiver. Born Feb. 6, 1927, in Dunrea, Man., died June 30, 2018, in St. Boniface, Man., of organ failure; aged 91.

Born two months premature and weighing just more than two pounds, it was a bit of a miracle that Raymond Deschênes survived. He was the second of what would be 10 children born to Jules and Blanche; they kept their newborn in a shoebox on the open wood stove door, as a form of incubator. Much to the local doctor’s amazement, Raymond thrived. He was raised in a loving Catholic family and he felt his calling early, entering the Oblate order at 17. A man of real faith, he served as an Oblate brother for more than 70 years.

“Ti- Frère,” as he was known by family, his faith community and those whose lives he touched, took his First Vows in the Oblate order in 1947. He was a bookbinder and gardener, cook and baker at the Oblate Seminary in St. Norbert, Man. From 1953 to 1975, he worked tirelessly at Collège Mathieu in Gravelbourg, Sask. Officially in charge of the infirmary, he seemed to take charge of everything as he took care of hundreds of students and faculty members. He made sure the school ran smoothly and everyone had a friend. Many were touched by his energetic presence and his call to serve. A former student wrote a play about him, which was performed in Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan, and the college created an annual award in his honour: the Prix P’tit Frère Raymond Deschênes.

Raymond was known to speak “Frenglish,” and it was sometimes hard to understand him in either official language. But he was better known for his hospitality, his warmth, his laugh and his love of hockey – he loved to watch the world juniors on TV and Sidney Crosby (a good Canadian kid) was a favourite.

Raymond was a favourite uncle and would take whomever came to visit out for Chinese food. He took one young niece, who lived in rural northern Minnesota, to her first ballet at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, he found jobs for his nephews and took two of them on a road trip from Winnipeg to Nanaimo, B.C., to see Canada. Once, he raced out to buy diapers for an overwhelmed nephew’s wife struggling with three young kids and a newborn (he bought a box of each size as he was unclear what was needed for which child)! Raymond also famously rallied family, friends and his faith community to pray for a miracle cure for a great-nephew, who is still in remission.

His faith family relied on him, too: He shuttled priests and brothers to appointments and meetings, and provided comfort and support to countless families and members of the order. He actively served his order and his community for 61 years, slowing down ever so slightly in the last 10 years. In “retirement” (his last 10 years), he continued to serve and took it upon himself to help refugees in Winnipeg finding them places to live, furniture for their homes and jobs.

He will be lovingly remembered by his Oblate family, his Gravelbourg family and his large extended Deschênes family, all of whom he lovingly served for his entire life.

By Monique Smith – Raymond’s niece

Published on the Globe and Mail website