Robert Gregory LABELLE

  Bob was born in Quebec City on June 5, 1941. His close family growing up included his parents Elzear (Ernie) and Anne Labelle (nee Burgess), his sister Bea and brother Dennis. Bob grew up in Notre-Dame-de-Grace where he attended Loyola High School, displayed his agility in football and sports in general, while acquiring a passionate interest in Jesuit philosophy and in the writings of Bertrand Russell. Soon after high school and briefly attending Loyola College (now Concordia University), he was employed by the mining industry, but not for his ability to load barrels of fuel into float planes, rather for the ability to assist the local ball team with his underhanded fastpitch, for which he was extraordinarily talented. As a young man does, Bob sought after a more fulfilling lifestyle, subsequently being persuaded by a savvy Marine Corps Recruitment Officer, visiting north of the border, to join the elite fighting force of the United States and become a Jarhead. Bob’s penchant for adventure and enthusiasm for espionage led him to become a member of the special operations division known as Force Reconnaissance. His stories abound with jumping out of planes and avoiding poisonous cottonmouth snakes while navigating the swamps of North Carolina during training. Bob’s military career, while providing world travel and involvement in intelligence gathering, would be short lived once he met the love of his life Sela (Zela) Mae (nee Benjamin). He left the military as a Corporal after three years, returning to Quebec and marrying Zela on October 10, 1964.

  Bob and Zela had two children, Jeffrey and Sean, while changing their home environment for greener pastures and moving to the west coast of British Columbia. Bob’s après military life developed into a career in pharmaceutical sales, but soon burgeoning into an entrepreneurial career with the formation and marketing of a laundry detergent known as Magic3. His ability in the art of casuistic reasoning made him the quintessential salesman, where many joked his charm and intellect could have you buying a bridge he didn’t own. Bob’s other passion, sports, had him playing, coaching and sponsoring the Vancouver Magicians of the Western Major Fastball League, becoming a very successful franchise.

  After nearly 82 years of living an envious life, our father was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. A terminal illness that would eventually rid his body of any energy to go on. Abiding by his wishes he was brought home to die surrounded by family and friends. He called it a living funeral, where he could enjoy the company of those he loved while reminiscing of the good old days. Over the years, because of his welcoming nature, infectious laugh and jovial wit, he made a countless number of friendships that were strikingly evident in the last couple of weeks of his life. Of course, the one love most cherished is that for his wife and partner for over 59 years, Zela, where on his last night while embracing each other, he pointed to his chest, then hers, followed by a gentle kiss on the lips, before falling asleep with a smile and a warm heart. Our father passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of May 29, 2023.