10. Léon and Marie Arsenault

Léon died on 20 April 1968 in Summerside at the Prince County Hospital. He was 87 years and five months old. The wake was held in Wellington at the home of his son, Edmond, where he had spent the last months of his life. The funeral service was held in his home parish of St. Philippe and St. Jacques, and, like his wife he was interred in the local cemetery. In his last will and testament, he divided his assets equally among his children and donated some money to the parish. A chalice was bought with that donation and his name and that of Marie’s was inscribed on it.

Léon a Damien, or Leo D. as he was called in English, is remembered as an enterprising and determined man. Father of 15 children, he led a busy life and even kept on fishing until he was 85 years old. The way of life had changed drastically during his lifetime and according to him not always for the better. Late in life he stated to a reporter from the Summerside Journal- Pioneer that he felt that people didn't want to work anymore. In his mind, "The Family Allowance and Old Age Pension [had] ruined them."

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Léon and Marie Arsenault in July 1947, standing on the verandah of their home in Maximeville.

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