Kelly et ses enfants
Sincères condoléances
A tree is planted
in memory of the deceased
Daniel Alain Rousseau, April 25, 1966 to June 19, 2021. Daniel has died, taken away from us far too soon by ALS, and we are heartbroken. Born to Pauline Bergeron Rousseau (deceased) and Marc Rousseau (deceased) on April 25, 1966, Daniel was raised in Cookshire, Quebec. He excelled at his studies, graduating from the Seminaire de Sherbrooke and the Université de Sherbrooke (Electrical Engineering). His early career in the foreign service led him to adventures abroad – he lived in India and travelled extensively. Yet, despite adventures (or dangerous escapades) like riding camels and rafting among hippopotamuses, Daniel found happiness and fulfillment in the quiet, simple life we made for ourselves in Gatineau, Quebec and his career as a software engineer.
The most important thing to Daniel was family. He adored, and was adored by, his wife Kelly Ann Sullivan, and his greatest joy (and sometimes irritation) was their cherished sons, Benjamin, Sébastien and Colin Rousseau, the true loves of his life. Daniel was thrilled for his dear brother, Luc-Éric Rousseau, when he found his beautiful wife, Flavia Fu, and he dearly loved his nieces and nephew, Mélodie, Harmonie and Rémi. He enjoyed keeping in touch with his and Kelly’s extended families and leaves a large circle of aunts, uncles and cousins who will miss him, especially his godmother, Mariette Bergeron and his mother-in-law, Margaret Sullivan. Many wonderful friends will also miss him, especially his best friend Joanne Larose.
ALS took away Daniel’s mobility and ability to speak and eat, but it could not take away his keen intelligence and wit, and it served to highlight his resilience and humour. He never once asked “why me”; he simply set out to live as fully as he could, as long as he could, which he did. In his last week he paid bills online, and on his last day chose a tie for his son’s high school graduation. His was an ordinary life lived extraordinarily, until his peaceful death with Kelly by his side on June 19, 2021.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the family members, friends and professionals who supported us in many different ways throughout Daniel’s illness, especially his mother-in-law who worked so tirelessly to help in any way she could, the team at the ALS Clinic at the Neuro in Montreal who provided compassionate and expert care, and the various CISSSO professionals who made his life more comfortable, especially the frontline workers who were in our home daily kindly and competently providing hands-on care.
You are welcome to join Benjamin, Sébastien, Colin and I as we give thanks for Daniel’s life and bid him adieu:
At the church, all the COVID protocols, e.g. masks, distancing, will be followed to ensure the safest environment possible. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, we are not able to hold a reception right now. However, friends and family are welcome to drop by our patio over the coming weeks, and we will hold a gathering when possible to celebrate Daniel’s life all together.
***IMPORTANT*** We must make a list of the names and phone numbers of all those who will attend. If you will join us, please confirm your attendance as soon as possible with my friend Colleen at pankewichcolleen@hotmail.com or by calling our home number.
The Mass will also be livestreamed for those who are not able to attend in person: https://youtu.be/uYIER4c894Y.
The boys and I are touched that many family members and friends have indicated that they would like to honour Daniel's memory with a charitable donation. Donations in Daniel's memory may be made to the ALS Society of Quebec (https://www.imakeanonlinedonation.org/slaquebec), St-Vincent de Paul Society (https://arch.diocesegatineau.org/.../st-mark-the.../2434) or your local food bank (https://www.foodbankscanada.ca/util.../find-a-food-bank.aspx).