François Desmarais

On Friday, January 27, 2023 at the age of seventy-one years and eleven months, François Desmarais, a beloved spouse, father and grand-father, passed away peacefully at the Carlingview Manor in Ottawa after a lengthy illness. Born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, the last of eight children to the late Élisabeth Daviau and late Edmond Desmarais, François spent most of his working life in the hi-tech field in Ottawa with Mitel and BreconRidge.

François was a man of many talents. Not only was he a fine golfer, he was a bridge player and teacher, and he especially had a life-long love of music and played bass guitar and keyboard with several bands starting in his teens with his home-town boy band “Les intendants”. He was also a dancer, having learned how to dance with his older sisters, and in 1997 he was introduced to square dancing with the Meri Squares dance club in Ottawa. He loved it so much that he eventually became a caller and not only the club’s Co-President but also the President of the Callers Association of Eastern Ontario as he was very much involved with the square dancing community of Eastern Ontario. He also called for the Swinging Swallows Dance Club in Pembroke and it was his commitment that resulted in the creation of the Glengarry Tartans Dance Club in Alexandria. 

François was always willing to help with any problem, he could be counted on to find a way to repair pretty much anything - he was a real "MacGyver". No matter the situation or problem, François took everything in stride with grace and humour and always looked on the bright side. He had quite a reputation for always having a joke to tell.

François was a wonderful father-figure to his granddaughter, Madison, who grew up with him and she will always remember the bikes fixed, the skating rink, decorating for Halloween and so much more. His grandchildren will always remember the fun times they had with him year-round, whether it was learning with him how to draw their favourite characters, watching him call a square dance at the annual Desmarais family gatherings at Christmastime, sledding or downhill skiing in the winter and swimming in the lake at the summer cottage. A kinder and more gentle man you could not find, he will be missed by all who knew him.

François is survived by his loving spouse of many years, Barbara McLellan, his son, Frédéric-François Desmarais, his step-children LeeAnn and Chris McLellan, his grandchildren, Madison McLellan, Amélie, Sophia and Zakary Desmarais, and his siblings Denis (Lucie), René (Françoise), Solange, Pierrette and André (Monique) and many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

At François’ request, a private interment will be held and a celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of giving flowers, the family asks that those who are able make a donation may be directed to the Ottawa Hospital Foundation: https://secure3.convio.net/otthf/site/Donation2?3785.donation=form1&df_id=3785&mfc_pref=T