It is with great sadness the family of Rupert Hunter announce his passing on Sunday, March 29, 2015 at the Emo Health Centre with his family by his side.
He was born on July 30, 1947 in Emo, ON to Arthur and Helen Hunter. He was raised at Rainy River First Nations, attending school in Emo and later Fort Frances High School.
Dad was a helper. He worked for Rainy River First Nations as the Family Service Worker for 21 years and continued that work at Seine River First Nations as the Director of Family Services.
He was community-minded and served as a member of Council for several terms. He forged a lasting friendship with Jim Leonard and always referred to Jim as his Chief and his chum.
During that time, he helped to establish the Emergency First Response Team. Always up for a challenge, Dad became a volunteer ambulance attendant for Riverside Ambulance services in June of 1990 and worked until they retired his badge #98027 on April 22, 2002.
Rupert met the love of his life, Sandra, at a family wedding in 1966 and they were united in marriage on June 7, 1968. They were incredibly devoted to one another; if you found one, you always knew the other wasn’t too far away.
As Dad’s illness progressed, Mom took great care of him and made sure he had everything he needed. She was his everything.
Rupert enjoyed playing Bingo, card games and going to the Casino when he could convince Sandra to go.
He was an avid sports fan and he loved to watch hockey (Go Habs!), wrestling and had coached baseball. He had a quick wit and always had a joke to share; he loved to make people laugh.
Dad also loved country music, especially Johnny Cash. He enjoyed quiet times watching the birds and working in the garden.
Rupert leaves behind his wife, Sandra, of 47 years; daughters, Juanita (Shawn) Connon, Tina (Jamie) Laurin, and Tammy (Mickey) Ryll; grandchildren, Jaykob, Mickenna, Hunter, Connor and Rylee; grandpuppies, Maci and Sparrow; grandcat, Ciera; brothers-in-law, Joseph Beck and Joseph Reff; uncle, Willie (Carol) Wilson and aunts, Genevieve McInnis and Roberta (John Wayne) Sinclair, as well as a large extended family. Dad made many friends over the years and he valued every one of them.
He was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Helen; sisters, Marlene Reff and Linda Beck; in-laws, Wes and Mary Shaffer; uncle, Leonard Wilson; aunt, Jean Anderson; and nephews, Robbie Wilson and Joseph Beck.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, ON
Funeral mass will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 1 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Emo, ON with Father Allan Lapay officiating. Interment will be at the Rainy River First Nation Cemetery.
The pallbearers will be his sons-in-law, Shawn, Jamie and Mickey; as well as Robin McGinnis, Art Hunter and Stan Vlotaros. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandbabies, and his friends of the volunteer Emo ambulance.
If friends so desire in memoriam donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association or the Alzheimer’s Society in care of Green Funeral Home, Box 427, Fort Frances, ON, P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com.
“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday. Unseen, unheard, but always near, So loved, so missed, so very dear.”
—Author unknown
