Charles Auguste Villeneuve
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Charles Auguste Villeneuve, husband of the late Suzanne Hurtubise, on October 17, at the age of 93.
He leaves to mourn his brother Rolland (late Pierrette Couture), his children Hélène (Alan Liverman), Louise and Jacques (Susan McMurray), his grandchildren, Charles-Patrick, Gabrielle (Paul Saad) as well as Laurence and Mathilde and Stéphane Bertrand their father, Elliot, Evan and Zachary and his great-grandchildren Sofia and Emma. He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews. He joins his beloved Suzanne, his brothers and sisters and his entire family.
A loving, committed and respected man, Charles Auguste was born in L'Ange-Gardien, Montmorency, near Québec City. He began studying singing at the age of eight, and later turned to the clarinet and oboe, which he studied at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec with his teacher Réal Gagner. He was a member of the Orchestre symphonique de Québec from 1951 to 1957.
In 1960, he earned his commission, was promoted to lieutenant and appointed commander and chief of music of the Royal Canadian Army Ordnance Corps (RCOC) in Montreal. In 1965, he was promoted to captain and transferred to Soest, Germany, with the RCOC band. For three years, he performed in most European countries.
In 1971, he was promoted to major and took over as director of music of the Royal Canadian Artillery. He held this position until 1978, when he became director of music of the Royal 22e Régiment at La Citadelle, Québec, until 1980. In the meantime, he also took part in numerous military music festivals as guest conductor, and taught oboe at Université Laval between 1975 and 1977.
In 1980, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, making him the first Quebecer to become supervisor of Canadian military bands.
First as an oboist and then as a conductor, Charles Auguste has had a long and distinguished career in the Canadian Armed Forces, recognized with the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his service to society. He is the author of two military marches, La belle équipe and Servir.
The family would like to thank his friends and dinner companions at the Vent de l'Ouest residence, who supported him greatly over the past years. The family would also like to thank the nursing staff at the residence and the home palliative care team at CLSC Pierrefonds-Saint-Louis. The team at the Résidence de soins palliatifs Teresa-Dellar is also to be commended for the excellent end-of-life care they provided.
In honour of Charles Auguste, a tribute will be held on November 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Urgel-Bourgie Montreal Funeral Complex, located at 3955 Côte-de-Liesse Road, Saint-Laurent, H4N 2N6. A religious ceremony will follow at 4 p.m. at the same location.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence would be appreciated.
He leaves to mourn his brother Rolland (late Pierrette Couture), his children Hélène (Alan Liverman), Louise and Jacques (Susan McMurray), his grandchildren, Charles-Patrick, Gabrielle (Paul Saad) as well as Laurence and Mathilde and Stéphane Bertrand their father, Elliot, Evan and Zachary and his great-grandchildren Sofia and Emma. He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews. He joins his beloved Suzanne, his brothers and sisters and his entire family.
A loving, committed and respected man, Charles Auguste was born in L'Ange-Gardien, Montmorency, near Québec City. He began studying singing at the age of eight, and later turned to the clarinet and oboe, which he studied at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec with his teacher Réal Gagner. He was a member of the Orchestre symphonique de Québec from 1951 to 1957.
In 1960, he earned his commission, was promoted to lieutenant and appointed commander and chief of music of the Royal Canadian Army Ordnance Corps (RCOC) in Montreal. In 1965, he was promoted to captain and transferred to Soest, Germany, with the RCOC band. For three years, he performed in most European countries.
In 1971, he was promoted to major and took over as director of music of the Royal Canadian Artillery. He held this position until 1978, when he became director of music of the Royal 22e Régiment at La Citadelle, Québec, until 1980. In the meantime, he also took part in numerous military music festivals as guest conductor, and taught oboe at Université Laval between 1975 and 1977.
In 1980, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, making him the first Quebecer to become supervisor of Canadian military bands.
First as an oboist and then as a conductor, Charles Auguste has had a long and distinguished career in the Canadian Armed Forces, recognized with the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his service to society. He is the author of two military marches, La belle équipe and Servir.
The family would like to thank his friends and dinner companions at the Vent de l'Ouest residence, who supported him greatly over the past years. The family would also like to thank the nursing staff at the residence and the home palliative care team at CLSC Pierrefonds-Saint-Louis. The team at the Résidence de soins palliatifs Teresa-Dellar is also to be commended for the excellent end-of-life care they provided.
In honour of Charles Auguste, a tribute will be held on November 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Urgel-Bourgie Montreal Funeral Complex, located at 3955 Côte-de-Liesse Road, Saint-Laurent, H4N 2N6. A religious ceremony will follow at 4 p.m. at the same location.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Teresa Dellar Palliative Care Residence would be appreciated.