Marcel PICARD
July 26, 1947 – August 15, 2022
Passed away peacefully at KGH after a short illness with his wife and sons by his side. He is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years
Claudette, his sons Sylvain (Kimberly McGlynn) and André (Melanie Moore), and his four grandchildren Brynnon, Rowan, Christopher and Michel. Son of the late Julien Picard and the late Cécile Tessier, he is survived by sisters Noëlla (late Raymond Groulx), Anita (late Wilfred Harrigan), Andréa (late Robert Séguin), Agathe (Gérald Séguin), and brother Michel (France Hogue). Predeceased by brothers Léopold (late Raymonde Sauvé), Conrad (late Pauline Maisonneuve) and Yvon (Francine Desjardins); and sisters Anna (late Al Benny), Colombe (late Harry McCarthy) and brother-in-law Michael Murray (Anne Parker).
One of eleven children, Marcel was born in Plantagenet, Ontario, where his fondest memories were of growing up on a farm in nearby Treadwell. As a young man, he lived in Montréal before moving on to Kingston with his young family. A long-time employee at Northern Telecom (later Belden), Marcel worked his way up from machine operator to become the Director of Human Resources. For many years, he was an active member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Paul the Apostle church.
Founder of The Violin Workshop, Marcel was a skilled luthier who made exceptional violins and lovingly repaired and restored stringed instruments from around the world. Well-known in the city’s music community, Marcel played fiddle in the Kingston Ceili Band and the Musical Knights for several years. Along with writing original music, he possessed a recognized talent for arrangements which was a local resource for fellow musicians and teachers who regularly sought out his help.
Active in sports, in his younger years Marcel took judo with his sons. He played in hockey, broomball and softball leagues, and coached softball as well, but his love of golf lasted into his golden years. As a twenty-one-year summer resident at Ashton Park Estates campground in Napanee, Marcel was the park’s tireless volunteer handyman, aiding his neighbors and making many improvements to the grounds.
Marcel was a talented, generous, hardworking man devoted to his wife, his family, and his community. His absence will be keenly felt by all, but his instruments, his music and his legacy will go on.
There will be a public visitation on Friday, August 26, 2022 from 10:30-12:30 at the Gordon F. Tompkins Funeral Home, 435 Davis Drive in Kingston (Centennial at Taylor-Kidd), followed by Liturgy of the Word Services in the chapel at 12:30 p.m. Father Mark Chockrek officiating. Rite of Committal prayers will be said at Glenhaven Memorial Gardens at 1:30 p.m. with a reception following back at the funeral home.
Those who wish to make a memorial donation are encouraged to contribute to Partners in Mission Food Bank or a cause of their choice.
Sharing of online condolences available at www.GFTompkins-Township.ca