Obituary for Michel (Mitch) Berard
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Our dearly loved husband, son, father, grandfather, brother, cousin, uncle, and wonderful friend Michel (Mitch) Berard passed away with his family by his side, on July 24, 2023, at the age of 60 years.
He is lovingly survived by his wife and best friend of 38 years Jeanne (Boucher) Berard; Son Robert (Kim); Daughter Suzette (Kyle); Claude, Roland (Danielle). He will also be forever missed by his grandchildren Sylvia, Alice, and Clarke; his parents Claude and Lorraine Berard; brothers Eugene (Shirley), and Dan (Shelley); Sister in Law Denise Berard; special cousin Rosanne (Kevin); Father in Law Albert Boucher; Sister in Law Louise Boucher - Chartier (Gilles); Brother in Law Paul Boucher; Sister in Law Michelle Boucher; Brother in Law George Boucher (Christine); Brother in Law Arthur Boucher; and many dearly loved nieces and nephews; along with so many many friends.
Mitch was predeceased by his brother Georges Berard; his Mother in Law Alice Boucher; His Grandparents George and Rose Bretecher and Eugene and Anna Berard.
Growing up Mitch grew up in Norwood in a very close neighbourhood where he made many lifelong friends. He attended Ecole Precieux Sang. Mitch met his best friend Luc Labelle delivering papers for the Winnipeg Free Press. They took pride in their job and work ethic which Mitch carried with him though his life! He made so many lifelong friends in this amazing neighbourhood he grew up in like Paul Heibert who was always there for Mitch!
Eventually Mitch started to work for Fred Bilodeau doing stucco. And then worked for Pelltier Construction where he met another great life-long friend that would become very special to Mitch, Serge Regimbald.
Then Mitch started a job with Jeanne delivering papers for the Winnipeg Sun! Many late nights as the paper would be ready around midnight and off, they would go kids in tow delivering those papers every night! So many good memories of that time especially the “Search for Gold” We would all pile in with them in the van get our Tim Hortons and wait for the paper to come off the press and search for gold while they did their deliveries. We would search till all hours of the night came close so many times but the fun we had was immeasurable!
Mitch eventually ran a moving and cartage company, and he was definitely a force to be reckoned with! He could pack a truck like no other it was like he was a puzzle master! And his strength was like no other! He could carry fridges, freezers, boat motors out of basements on his own! Normally you need 3 people to move a piano well with Mitch you only needed one extra guy! He was a power house!
Mitch was also a master at making Pizza! He worked for Gondola Pizza on St Mary’s Road for a very long time with Jeanne by his side! Sometimes they were delivering the food too! He loved this job and working with is friend Terry for many years.
Mitch also worked for Wilson Electric for approximately 10 years till they closed. Mitch got so many guys jobs at Wilson most of the place was either a relative or a good friend!
For a few years his sister-in-law got Mitch a job for a security company run by the classic Bobby Steele who was a subcontractor for Winnipeg Enterprises that did all the concert security, Blue Bomber Games and the old Walker Theatre and special events in the city. He became a favourite of Bobby’s because he knew he could depend on Mitch and again he was as strong as a bull and could carry and throw out 4 guys at a time if they were misbehaving! No one got past Mitch!! Once the Old Barn got torn down and the concerts moved to the then MTS Centre Mitch started to do security for Victory Lanes Speedway and supervised the security crew eventually! Again, he was dependable, fair and was great at his job!
Another thing Mitch loved to do is work for Conklin Shows for set up and tear down of the roller coasters every year when the Ex came to Winnipeg.
But Trucking was Mitch’s love! He fell in love with Trucking and he and Jeanne drove a lot of miles and spent quality time together and got to see North America driving for Penner International. He made many friends including a very special one who during this time was always there for him named Stephen! He was dedicated, dependable and never said no to a job as he loved it so much! He was a no nonsense driver as the dispatcher would tell him.
Jeanne and Mitch met thought her brother Paul and when Mitch met Jeanne he gave her a rose and said that he was going to marry her some day! They dated and Mitch got his wish and married Jeanne at L’Elglise Precieux Sang on November 17, 1984.
Mitch was a huge presence in every one of his family and friend’s lives. He would give you the shirt off his back! If you needed help, he would be there for you didn’t matter what time of day you could always count on Mitch!
He had an amazing work ethic! His employers loved him because of it! And he was all about taking care of his family! He loved Jeanne, the children and the grandchildren so much and spent countless hours with them enjoying family the kids were always welcome in their home even after they moved out, it was always home and a place to feel safe and cared for! When the grandchildren came you could see a light and a sparkle in his eye that was an undeniable great love! They truly meant the world to him, and it showed in the affection they had for him! He loved FaceTiming with them when he was on the road and while was in hospital and it always was the highlight of his day!
He also had a love for his pets! His sweet cats Missy and Mazikeen lifted his spirits whenever he was home.
Jeanne and Mitch shared a love like no other! It was always said they were joined at the hip and they literally went everywhere together! She went on most of Mitches trips until her accident which made it impossible to travel with him. Shortly afterwards Mitch suffered 2 strokes and Jeanne became his full-time caregiver, of course with the help of her children especially Claude who has been there for his mom every moment at home! But again, all of her wonderful children helped any way they could. One thing I know we are all grateful for was Mitch being well enough to attend Suzie and Kyles wedding and Robert and Kim’s engagement party!
He was a fighter and fought till the end he fought so hard to be at home with his family and sadly he was taken away suddenly from us all! He was such a huge presence in our lives, and he will never be forgotten. Your many interesting and funny stories will stay with us in our hearts, and we will continue to share with others forever! You were a jack of all trades you were never afraid of a challenge and achieved so much in your short life here on earth!
Rest In Peace Mitch we all love you and miss you dearly.
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Our dearly loved husband, son, father, grandfather, brother, cousin, uncle, and wonderful friend Michel (Mitch) Berard passed away with his family by his side, on July 24, 2023, at the age of 60 years.
He is lovingly survived by his wife and best friend of 38 years Jeanne (Boucher) Berard; Son Robert (Kim); Daughter Suzette (Kyle); Claude, Roland (Danielle). He will also be forever missed by his grandchildren Sylvia, Alice, and Clarke; his parents Claude and Lorraine Berard; brothers Eugene (Shirley), and Dan (Shelley); Sister in Law Denise Berard; special cousin Rosanne (Kevin); Father in Law Albert Boucher; Sister in Law Louise Boucher - Chartier (Gilles); Brother in Law Paul Boucher; Sister in Law Michelle Boucher; Brother in Law George Boucher (Christine); Brother in Law Arthur Boucher; and many dearly loved nieces and nephews; along with so many many friends.
Mitch was predeceased by his brother Georges Berard; his Mother in Law Alice Boucher; His Grandparents George and Rose Bretecher and Eugene and Anna Berard.
Growing up Mitch grew up in Norwood in a very close neighbourhood where he made many lifelong friends. He attended Ecole Precieux Sang. Mitch met his best friend Luc Labelle delivering papers for the Winnipeg Free Press. They took pride in their job and work ethic which Mitch carried with him though his life! He made so many lifelong friends in this amazing neighbourhood he grew up in like Paul Heibert who was always there for Mitch!
Eventually Mitch started to work for Fred Bilodeau doing stucco. And then worked for Pelltier Construction where he met another great life-long friend that would become very special to Mitch, Serge Regimbald.
Then Mitch started a job with Jeanne delivering papers for the Winnipeg Sun! Many late nights as the paper would be ready around midnight and off, they would go kids in tow delivering those papers every night! So many good memories of that time especially the “Search for Gold” We would all pile in with them in the van get our Tim Hortons and wait for the paper to come off the press and search for gold while they did their deliveries. We would search till all hours of the night came close so many times but the fun we had was immeasurable!
Mitch eventually ran a moving and cartage company, and he was definitely a force to be reckoned with! He could pack a truck like no other it was like he was a puzzle master! And his strength was like no other! He could carry fridges, freezers, boat motors out of basements on his own! Normally you need 3 people to move a piano well with Mitch you only needed one extra guy! He was a power house!
Mitch was also a master at making Pizza! He worked for Gondola Pizza on St Mary’s Road for a very long time with Jeanne by his side! Sometimes they were delivering the food too! He loved this job and working with is friend Terry for many years.
Mitch also worked for Wilson Electric for approximately 10 years till they closed. Mitch got so many guys jobs at Wilson most of the place was either a relative or a good friend!
For a few years his sister-in-law got Mitch a job for a security company run by the classic Bobby Steele who was a subcontractor for Winnipeg Enterprises that did all the concert security, Blue Bomber Games and the old Walker Theatre and special events in the city. He became a favourite of Bobby’s because he knew he could depend on Mitch and again he was as strong as a bull and could carry and throw out 4 guys at a time if they were misbehaving! No one got past Mitch!! Once the Old Barn got torn down and the concerts moved to the then MTS Centre Mitch started to do security for Victory Lanes Speedway and supervised the security crew eventually! Again, he was dependable, fair and was great at his job!
Another thing Mitch loved to do is work for Conklin Shows for set up and tear down of the roller coasters every year when the Ex came to Winnipeg.
But Trucking was Mitch’s love! He fell in love with Trucking and he and Jeanne drove a lot of miles and spent quality time together and got to see North America driving for Penner International. He made many friends including a very special one who during this time was always there for him named Stephen! He was dedicated, dependable and never said no to a job as he loved it so much! He was a no nonsense driver as the dispatcher would tell him.
Jeanne and Mitch met thought her brother Paul and when Mitch met Jeanne he gave her a rose and said that he was going to marry her some day! They dated and Mitch got his wish and married Jeanne at L’Elglise Precieux Sang on November 17, 1984.
Mitch was a huge presence in every one of his family and friend’s lives. He would give you the shirt off his back! If you needed help, he would be there for you didn’t matter what time of day you could always count on Mitch!
He had an amazing work ethic! His employers loved him because of it! And he was all about taking care of his family! He loved Jeanne, the children and the grandchildren so much and spent countless hours with them enjoying family the kids were always welcome in their home even after they moved out, it was always home and a place to feel safe and cared for! When the grandchildren came you could see a light and a sparkle in his eye that was an undeniable great love! They truly meant the world to him, and it showed in the affection they had for him! He loved FaceTiming with them when he was on the road and while was in hospital and it always was the highlight of his day!
He also had a love for his pets! His sweet cats Missy and Mazikeen lifted his spirits whenever he was home.
Jeanne and Mitch shared a love like no other! It was always said they were joined at the hip and they literally went everywhere together! She went on most of Mitches trips until her accident which made it impossible to travel with him. Shortly afterwards Mitch suffered 2 strokes and Jeanne became his full-time caregiver, of course with the help of her children especially Claude who has been there for his mom every moment at home! But again, all of her wonderful children helped any way they could. One thing I know we are all grateful for was Mitch being well enough to attend Suzie and Kyles wedding and Robert and Kim’s engagement party!
He was a fighter and fought till the end he fought so hard to be at home with his family and sadly he was taken away suddenly from us all! He was such a huge presence in our lives, and he will never be forgotten. Your many interesting and funny stories will stay with us in our hearts, and we will continue to share with others forever! You were a jack of all trades you were never afraid of a challenge and achieved so much in your short life here on earth!
Rest In Peace Mitch we all love you and miss you dearly.
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