DAGENAIS, Bernard “Bernie” - Who passed away peacefully at the Pembroke Regional Hospital on Thursday, December 29, 2022 in his 64th year. Bernie Dagenais was the fifth of six children. Beloved son of Frances Dagenais, and the late René Julien Dagenais. Loving father of Morgan Todhunter. Dear brother of Guy (the late Johanne) Dagenais, Susan Dagenais, Jane (Mark) McMurtry, David (Adele) Dagenais and John (Rhonda Butler) Dagenais. Sadly missed by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews too and by close friends, Linda Todhunter, Jim O’Hara, Scott Middlestadt and Greg Wetterer. Bernie was a quiet child. Perhaps he couldn’t get a word in edgewise in his big family? Bernie always loved animals. His first love was a little black and white Beagle named Sniffer. Bernie would sit and rock for hours on the big gold rocking chair with Sniffer snuggled up next to him. As a pre-teen, Bernie excelled in karate lessons with his sensei, Bill Pinkerton, and earned his green belt. He enjoyed weightlifting, a sport he continued to perfect throughout his lifetime. In his early teen years, Bernie and his friend, Jim O’Hara built a go-cart. Jim animatedly recalls, “We were given a seat from a Lincoln Continental! Bernie and I took turns driving that go-cart all over town. We once raced it down Bell Street with my sister driving her vehicle alongside and she clocked us at 67 mph.” Bernie also took great pleasure in totally restoring a Camaro which he painted black. After high school, Bernie moved to Vancouver where he met and fell in love with Linda Todhunter. Together they had a lovely daughter, Morgan Luella. Bernie built quite an eye stopper stroller for his baby girl Morgan. Bernie was especially happy in the great outdoors. He loved being near the water and the mountains in BC. Once, when I pointed out the beautiful fall colours of the Laurentians, he playfully asked,“What mountains? You mean those hills over there.” Bernie was multi-talented and therefore dabbled in diverse careers through the years: go-carts and stock car building, metal art, gothic art furniture, and working in the movie industry, both behind and in front of the camera. Bernie once built a skull using various automobile and bicycle parts for a Halloween party. Bernie credits a high school teacher for encouraging him to be artistic. “When I said, ‘I wish I could do that.’ she told me I could.” That made all the difference. Bernie did a lot of driving in his early years and eventually purchased a small school bus which he repurposed. It became his humble travelling home for years. Bernie was not to be healed and so we pray that he is now in the loving arms of our Dearest Lord. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, July 25 at 11 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pembroke, followed by Interment of Ashes, St. Columba Cemetery. A reception at The Farmstead. As an expression of sympathy, donations to the St. Joseph’s Food Bank would be appreciated. Arrangements by the
Neville Funeral Home
491 Isabella St., Pembroke, ON, K8A 5T8
(613) 732-7481
Online Condolences may be left at www.nevillefuneralhome.ca