Joseph Emile Tessier
June 7, 1937 - January 23, 2019
Burial Date January 28, 2019
Church Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church
at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, 4588 Roblin Boulevard @ Grant Avenue, Winnipeg.
CLIFFORD TESSIER
RCMP STAFF SGT (RET’D)
JUNE 6, 1937 – JANUARY 23, 2019
On Wednesday, January 23, 2019, after a brief and brave fight with cancer, Cliff passed away surrounded by his family, joining the love of his life, Gail, who predeceased him almost three years ago.
Born minutes after his identical twin, Ron, Cliff was the youngest of six children – Ralph (Joanne), Milton (Kay), Maurice (Shirley), Cecil (Don Caswell), and Ronald (Doris); father to three Tom (Angela), Charlene (Henry Verbeek) and Sharon (Curtis MacNeil); and six grandchildren – Scott, Kayley, Adrienne, Ryan, Amy and Greg.
Cliff lived a life serving others, joining the RCMP with his twin at the age of 20 and serving most of his 35-year career in Manitoba. Once retired, he volunteered with the Royal Canadian Legion, where he served as Vice President of the Manitoba/Northwest Ontario Provincial Command and Dominion Command Vice President. Laying the wreath on behalf of Canada in Pashendale for the 75th anniversary of the battle was once of his greatest honours.
He was the originator of the Dad joke and a riveting storyteller (from family history, to RCMP anecdotes to bedtime stories). Most of all, he was fiercely proud and protective of his children and grandchildren – he would have preferred this obituary list all their accomplishments rather than focus on him. While he parented with an iron fist and a soft heart, he grand-parented with reckless abandon, allowing smarties for breakfast, McDonald’s for every other meal, cheating at board games, sharing outrageously inappropriate jokes and defending their rights to go against their parents’ rules (hence the smarties for breakfast). He made every child and grandchild believe they were his favourite, and in the end, each of them were for their own special reason. Cliff leaves to mourn many dear friends, including his companion Hetty Walker, many neighbours from Charleswood, Lion’s Park Square, former RCMP colleagues, Legion members and fellow parishioners.
Funeral Mass will be held in his honour on Monday, January 28, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, 4588 Roblin Boulevard @ Grant Avenue, Winnipeg.
Donations may be made to the Legion Poppy Fund or charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent to www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com