Bathurst - Paul Ivan Francoeur, aged 59, a compassionate and dedicated humanitarian, passed away peacefully at his home in Bathurst following a short illness. He was born to Alma Greene and Emery Francoeur in Carleton-Sur-Mer, Québec. Ivan’s life was a testament to his unwavering commitment to bettering the world through his work with non-governmental aid agencies. His passion for his mission took him across the globe, where he not only made an impact on the causes he championed but also on the countless individuals he befriended along the way.
Ivan was born into a loving family who instilled in him the values of kindness and compassion. Though he never married, his life was rich with relationships and experiences that spanned continents and cultures. His work was not just a job; it was a calling that he pursued with zeal, touching lives in the most remote corners of the world.
Despite the distances he often traveled, Ivan remained closely connected to his family. He is survived by his five doting older sisters and their spouses: Lynda, Mary Rhona (Kevin Mann), Viola (Reno Normand), Sandra Ann (Richard Normandeau) and Norma (Louis Chamberland). His legacy also lives on through his many loving nieces and nephews, who will carry forward the stories of his adventures. For his oldest niece, Judy, he will remain her “bruncle”. Ivan is also survived by a maternal aunt, Sister Viola Greene, and a paternal aunt and uncle, Rena Francoeur and Alvarez Arsenault.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Marie-Soleil Lamarre and the Bathurst Extra-Mural Program staff for their support in Ivan’s care. A celebration of life will be held at a later date for family and friends. Donations in memory of Ivan, the family suggests continuing his legacy with a donation to one of the many causes that focus on enhancing the lives of women and children in crisis situations around the world such as War Child (www.warchild.ca) and Plan International (www.plan-international.org).
Arrangements are in the care of Elhatton’s Funeral Home (www.elhatton.com), Bathurst.
