Romeo LeBlanc, the last WWII veteran from Memramcook, New Brunswick, passed away on Saturday at the age of 102.
His son recalls that last Wednesday, his father confided in him during a family outing.
“He said, ‘it’s closer than far away,’ meaning that death was approaching,” said Gary Leblanc.
He remembers his father for his selflessness.
“He loved to help,” he said.
Gary is proud to carry on the Leblanc name like his father.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Babatunde Lawani
Romeo LeBlanc joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1944 to fight in Europe, like about twenty other young men from his region. He was 20 years old at the time.
He spent 15 months overseas and returned to the country in February 1946.
In 1956, he became one of the founding members of a branch of the Canadian Legion in Memramcook.
“We are losing a veteran and a citizen who was involved in the village that almost everyone knew and loved, but at 102, he is passing the torch on to us,” said municipal councillor Etienne Gaudet, who is responsible for veteran affairs in the municipality.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Babatunde Lawani
Etienne Gaudet, a municipal councillor in Memramcook, also has fond memories of Romeo Leblanc’s courage and contribution. He believes Leblanc was one of those who helped shape the Memramcook of today.
“Not all veterans chose to participate like Romeo in the Legion,” he said.
His involvement in community life is also a memory that Maxime Bourgeois, the mayor of Memramcook, will cherish.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Babatunde Lawani
Maxime Bourgeois admired the fact that Romeo Leblanc fully embraced life and did not take it for granted.
Despite the veteran’s age, the news of his passing came as a shock to Maxime Bourgeois.
“He was someone who was still in good shape just a few weeks ago. He would go to Dixie Lee to have Fish and chips with fries, and he had no digestion problems,” Bourgeois said.
It was a habit he remained faithful to until his last days.
“He said, ‘I want to stop at Deluxe. We stopped at Deluxe, and he said, ‘I want Fish and chips, and I don’t want the light batter. I want the real Fish and chips,'” recalled his son, Gary Leblanc.
With information from Babatunde Lawani
