LtCol (Retired) Pierre LaChapelle, CD

Pierre LaChapelle died suddenly at the age of 77, on the first day of Spring, March 20^th, 2021, clearing brush and cutting logs on his rural property in Lanark County.  His family was profoundly saddened by his passing but take some comfort that we were by his side when he died, and that he did not linger or suffer.  Instead, he went out the way he wanted to, cherished, vital, active, sharp, and participating fully.

In this passing, Pierre left behind his wife, Laurette (Legault), of 46 years and his daughter Adrienne (John) Morin. He was the older brother of Dianne, Mike and Suzanne, uncle to Matthew and Laura and grandfather to Wilfred and Eleanor. He did not live to meet his third grandchild, Ursula Fae Morin.  Pierre was the cherished brother-in-law and uncle to Laurette’s many siblings, nieces and nephews.

Pierre was born Gerard Ambrose Pierre LaChapelle to Robert LaChapelle Jr. and Alma DuLac in Toronto, Ontario, in 1943. The eldest of four children he became the family breadwinner at age 12 when his father died. Pierre credited the Canadian Air Cadet movement with keeping him grounded during his teenage years.  He worked before and after school and full time during the summers to help support his mother and family. Pierre’s interest in the military was piqued and he saw the possibility of a career.  He enlisted first in the reserves and then in the Canadian Forces.  He served with both the Royal 22^nd Regiment (1964-1975) and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (1975-1998), in the arctic, on peacekeeping missions in Cyprus and Guatemala, at DND Headquarters in Ottawa, as NATO liaison officer in Italy as well as other postings and assignments. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Canadian Forces in 1998 and started his own defence consulting firm.  He continued to work on a variety of challenging projects up until his death.

Pierre hated a fuss and never liked to be the centre of attention. While he liked to tell stories many of his great works and endeavours were carried out quietly without fanfare. He lived by a simple motto: do good, be the best version of yourself, and leave every situation a little better than you found it. 

Pierre’s family has erected a monument for him at the National Military Cemetery at Beechwood Cemetery (plot 3690B). Pierre’s ashes will be interred at his rural property in Lanark County, in which he took immense pleasure and comfort.

A celebration of life will be held for Pierre on Saturday August 13, 2022, at the Sacred Space of the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave. Ottawa at 1 p.m. followed by a reception.