GERARD BUJOLD

29-Nov-1933 - 26-May-2025

With Heartfelt Love

Papa, I have the honour of sharing your life in print; a life so well-LIVED surrounding us with love and whenever the call was made, you would always answer “I’ll be right there”. 

Gérard (Gerry) Bujold is a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and mostly recognized by others within and outside his family as a strong parishioner and community man. 

On May 26th, 2025, dad started on his next and last adventure, and I am certain what an adventure it will be!

Although dad, not certain a fishing boat or motor home will be part of the travels. He began life on November 29th, 1933, the 6th born of parents Marie-Anna Boudreau Bujold and André Bujold. He was raised in Cascapédia-St-Jules, Québec but by the age of 14 had left the family home to begin working to assist his family and learning about a much larger world. 

Dad is survived by his spouse of 68 years Gisèle Grégoire Bujold and daughters Dolorese (Eddie) Wright; Hélène (Robert) Porter and Jacqueline (Allan) Bujold Ritchie; his grandchildren and great grandchildren: Edward Patrick Wright (deceased): Kyle Porter (Diana) and great grand-child Finley; Michael Haist (Melissa) and great grand-child Landon; Christopher Porter (Lisa); Kerianne Wright; Caitlin Haist and Quinton Haist (Caitlyn). 

His birth family remained a loving anchor for him and our family, as Gerry was one of the two brothers who left the province, forging his life in Welland. Distance never impacted on the love and family unity of the Bujold “clan” has for each other. Adrien and Réal died much too young to have learned more about this amazing group of siblings, their spouses, their children and children’s children and so on. The 12 who grew to adulthood married and most had children: Fernand, spouse Julie Arbour (both deceased) common law Estelle Couture Ouellete ; Alphé, spouse Murielle Lamontagne (both deceased), Lauréat (deceased) spouse France Boyer; Yolande, spouse Germain Désilets (both deceased); Jean-Marie, spouse Florine Cormier (deceased) , Angéla (deceased) spouse Raymond Arbour ; Antonia; Nérée (deceased) spouse Louise Bujold; Francoise, spouse Jean Brunelle; Rémi, spouse Andrée Vézina and Serge, spouse Emilie Litalien. The family remained tight with many, many, well many trips from Welland to Rimouski, St. Jules and Quebec City over the years. 

Dad was a parishioner of Paroisse Sacré Coeur located on Empire Street attending masses in the former church building where he married his bride Gisèle in 1956, prior to the 1960 construction of the current church. Both he and mom were very active in the parish. If not singing with the choir in that rich baritone or sitting on the finance committee he was involved with special events but also assisting priests in the Maintenance and Repair of the building. 

Gerry achieved the honorary Sir Knight of the 3rd degree having served both the church and the community. Dad also served his community as a volunteer fire fighter in Welland. 

Dad held many occupations beginning as a lumberjack in the northern part of Grand Cascapédia forests; into the Baie Comeau meeting up with cousins and reaching Val D’or. Farm raised he developed skills for repairing machinery. When invited to join a brother in the city of Welland he gained his hoisting engineer papers operating several mobile cranes ranging from pulley/cable machinery to fully automated. He was involved with the work in the tobacco country responsible for digging many of the irrigation ponds during the 50’s. He was an employee during the construction of the twin water tunnels under the city of Niagara Falls from Chippawa to Whirlpool Road as well as being involved with the construction of the Sir Adam Beck Power generating Station that was completed in 1958. He shared stories about the accidents that occurred in the building of the penstocks and the ability to recover those hit by tons of cement being poured. 

His hoisting engineering license was used during the building and maintenance of the hydro canal. I recall the stories of having the cranes sit over the waters of the Niagara River while operating the cranes for remedial work on the tunnels and power generating in located near Chippewa. 

During that interim he gained his millwright papers and transferred his skills to Atlas Steels in Welland where he worked in all plants on repairs. I have fond recollections of stories of men being “boys” when playing tricks on each other on midnight shifts. Those involved know who you are!!!. My fondest memories, however, of Atlas Steels were the Santa visits on the top floor where tables upon tables of toys were piled deep and organized by age and gender following our annual visit with Santa. It was fun, although stressful, ordering all the gifts for children in the later years when dad was on the organizing committee. Talk about a buying spree? 

Gerry left the world of being a paid millwright to become an insurance salesperson with Canada Life and began serving his community on August 27, 1970. He won many awards for his professionalism and work during the period from 1970 through to 1999 with annual eligibility to the Million Dollar Round Table. His hard work earned him trips and that is where the travel bug hit both he and mom. When he retired the travelling continued in earnest. The firm he established is now located at 189 East Main and is in its 55th year operated by daughter Dolorese and her business partner Chris Steele. 

During his years as an advisor, he was also a member of the downtown Welland initiatives and grew in his community work from the 1986 initiative of the Welland Mural Project (roots in the Festival or Arts); to member of the Rotary Club working in support of community and achieving Lifetime membership. Gerry was involved with the province of Ontario’s initiative of building colleges of applied arts and technology by working with a group of Welland business individuals to serve on the initial work group (and board) in recommending Welland as a location for the new provincial endeavor now well known as Niagara College. He continued his work with post-secondary support service on the board of Brock University between 1993 and 1999. Dad, you believed in giving back. You taught the daughters that when you give of yourself, the community will give back. If you take care of others, they will take care of you. No truer truth! Rest easy dad, we got ya!

Gerry's family and friends will celebrate his life privately and invite you to share valued memories and condolences via the Guestbook tab above. Donations to the Alzheimer's Society in Gerry's memory will be appreciated by his family.