Valmond Saulnier passed away at his home in Beresford on the morning of Saturday January 11, 2025 at the age of 86. Born in Tracadie-Sheila, he is the son of the late Jeffrey Saulnier and Alphonsine Boudreau.
The youngest in a family of eight, he spent his youth first in Pointe à Bouleau, Tracadie and then between Petit-Rocher and Bathurst. Once married, he spent a few years in Marathon, Ontario before returning to New Brunswick, first passing through Grand Falls and afterwards, for most of his life, residing in Bathurst. When he began working, he changed jobs often, trying to better his situation. During one period of time, he could boast about having changed jobs 14 times in 18 years, mostly in sales positions. From Life Insurance to aluminum doors to Singers sewing machines, he then changed direction to become a buyer. This sales experience made him a formidable purchasing agent, allowing him to climb the ladder, with beginnings as the director of an auto parts regional distribution center for Imperial Oil (Esso dealerships), to that of becoming Director of purchasing and material resources for the Vitalité health network, that he maintained for 20 years.
Recognized for his logic, his practicality, and his great capacity and ability to manage complex files, he was assigned the most difficult projects to render. Loved and appreciated by most of his employees, with the qualities of being firm but fair, and highly respected by those who might oppose him whether professionally or in horseshoe or curling competitions. He was definitely a fierce competitor. A man of commitment, he contributed not only as a member but by chairing and leading associations of all kinds. Whether it be the parish committee that had to make the decision to close the Mount Carmel church, the East-Bathurst sports association, the group that built the first tennis court in Bathurst, the local curling club or the UCT ('United Commercial Travelers') in which he became the Grand Councilor for the Atlantic provinces, Valmond was the person you wanted to have as an ally. He was also elected as City Councilor, and later participated on the Bathurst Urban Planning Commission.
His leisure activities included camping, snowmobiling, curling, hunting and fishing, and he loved inviting people around for a good partridge bouillon or a mess of smelts.
He leaves in sorrow but with wonderful memories his wife Anne-Marie (Lavigne) and children: Daniel (Claudine Mallet) and Diane (Brian Davis) of Beresford and he will join the predeceased youngest daughter Louise (Peter Shirley) of Oromocto ; four grandchildren: Christopher, Patrick, Matthieu, and Ariane.
Three brothers predeceased him: Delphis, Rhéal and Hector; as well as four sisters: Fernande, Noella, sister Annonciade and Géraldine.
We would like to thank the kindness, sensitivity towards us as well as the professionalism shown by all health care representatives with whom we had contact, from the paramedics who came to the house, the doctor as well as the nursing staff in the emergency room, to the palliative care attendants at Chaleur hospital.
Visitation will be held at Heritage funeral home, Beresford on Thursday January 16, 2025, from 2p.m. just till depart for the funeral. Funeral mass will be held at 4p.m. from St-Nom-de-Jésus church in Beresford.
You may accompany your expressions of sympathy with a donation to the Cancer Society, the Parkinson's Society or to UCT Council 827 Chaleur for their projects 'Friends of Healthcare' or the 'UCT Community Pavilion'.
