Obituary of Emerald Joseph Octave Ross

Emerald Ross of Gravelbourg, SK, passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2012, at the age of 95 years. Emerald was born on the family farm May 12, 1916, to Joseph and Julie Ross. Emerald attended Pelletier School, was a boarder for three years at the Gravelbourg Kindergarten and spent five years at College Mathieu. He enjoyed going to school and took part in various sports. Throughout the thirties Emerald rode freight trains, where he would travel and work across Canada. In June of 1940, Emerald volunteered for the Canadian Air Force and was trained as a wireless gunner. On January 21, 1941, Emerald was deployed overseas, arriving in Greenock, Scotland ten days later. After twenty-seven months overseas Emerald came back to Canada to train as a pilot, returning to England in April, 1944. After the war Emerald returned home to Gravelbourg, where he farmed for twenty years. In 1966, Emerald sold his farm and took a job as an orderly and nurse’s assistant at St. Joseph Hospital in Gravelbourg, where he worked until retiring in 1995. Emerald married Charlotte Prince of Montreal, and they were blessed with three children, Emerald Jr., Dee Dee, and Bruce. Emerald’s second marriage was to Florence Grant of Strasbourg and they were blessed with six children, Gary, Bonnie, Darlene, Ian, Debra and Daryl. Emerald is survived by his loving family, son Emerald Jr.; son Gary (Carole) and their children Sean and Katie; daughter Darlene and her children Chad and Dara; daughter Debra (Brent) Lewis and their children Donnelle and Derek; son Daryl; son-in-law Al Hunt and his children Michelle and Jodi; grandchildren Joe Froment, Jacqueline Froment and Charlotte Froment; 20 great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren; sister Marie Elva Bertram; and numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his first wife Charlotte (nee Prince); second wife Florence(nee Grant); daughters Alice Froment, Dee Dee Hunt and Bonnie; sons Bruce and Ian; granddaughter Bernadette Froment; grandson Brett Lewis; parents Joseph and Julie (nee Morissette) Ross; siblings Joe, John, Jeff, Ernest, Adelard, Tony, Alphonse, Armand, Philias and Juliette. Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at 7:00 p.m., at Our Lady of the Assumption Co-Cathedral, Gravelbourg, SK, with Father Joseph Strohhofer celebrant. Soloist Henri Lepage was accompanied by organist Leona Bourgeois. Gary Ross shared the eulogy. Honor guard was formed by the Royal Canadian Legion. Pallbearers were Cy Ross, Derek Lewis, Johnny Spencer, Doug Bell, Chad Moats, Rene Ross and Mark Knowles. Interment took place at the Gravelbourg Roman Catholic Cemetery. Memorial tributes in memory of Emerald to the St. Joseph Hospital/Foyer d’Youville Foundation were greatly appreciated.