Leo Joseph Patenaude

In Loving Memory of

Leo Patenaude

Leo was born in Kelvington on June 10th, 1940 to Henry and Edith Patenaude who homesteaded in Perigord Saskatchewan. His father was a farmer and his mother had a full time job taking care of fourteen children. Leo was the youngest of the fourteen and lost his mother when he was just a toddler. His sister, Claire, took the role as mother for many years. Later, Leo and the younger siblings were sent to live in a convent in Prudhomm, Saskatchewan, for about four years. They were able to visit the family farm when he was permitted to leave for the Christmas holidays or the summer months.

Leo loved being on the farm, so it is no surprise that he returned from working in Ontario after living for six months with his brother Adelard. For a time, he ran a saw mill operation where he made lumber and sold it to local farmers. Later, Leo became a school bus driver, and a memorable one at that. He always greeted each kid with a good morning, a smile or a conversation. If he met you on the road, he’d always give a big thumbs up! He also loved farming grain and his cows. He said they were like pets and they liked him. Just like Leo, his cows were bilingual and came when he called them in French.

Leo had a passion for singing in church, which he did almost every Sunday. He would have loved to become a professional singer, but he says it wasn’t in the cards without proper training. He also loved hockey. His friends and siblings would play shinny with willows and horse turds on a frozen slough every winter. This is where he fell in love with the Montreal Canadiens and became their biggest fan for decades. Being a sports fanatic, Leo also loved watching curling and football. He enjoyed the times he was able to watch the Roughriders in the big stadium or his trips to the Briar to cheer on his favorite athletes.

Leo married Elaine Cunningham on October 7th, of 1978. Together they had four children, Jeff, Rene, Michelle and Marc. Leo reminisced about marrying Elaine, because she bought a cigarette off of him for ten cents. He kept that dime for their entire marriage. Leo loved his family and spent many hours with his wife, children and neighbours, playing cards, celebrating birthday parties and socializing. He also loved to play pranks and embellish stories for anyone gullible enough to believe him.

Leo was also the best grandpa a kid could ask for. He always went to the store to buy them chocolate covered raisins or another sweet treat. They also say that he played hide-n-seek, had water fights, and chased them when they got into his peanut or chocolate stash. He also liked teaching them French expressions and loved them unconditionally. He often greeted his family with a smile, a tea towel over his shoulder, a beer and clam in one hand and the smell of supper cooking on the stove.

He will be missed by the community, his wife Elaine, his children Jeff, Rene (Sara), Michelle (Kevin) and Marc (Jill) and his grandchildren, Nathan, Adam, Lauren, Bree, Maddy, Kain, Reese, Elle, Jax and Blake. Being the youngest of fourteen, Leo is predeceased by his parents and all of his siblings, with the exception of his sisters, Bernadette and Anglea.

Funeral Service

1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Kelvington Legion Hall

Kelvington, Saskatchewan

A time of refreshments and socializing will be held at Clearview Lodge following the interment

Donations may be made to

Kelvington Hospital Palliative Care or

Kelvington Walking Trails

as a token of remembrance