OBITUARY: Arthur George BOUSQUET (1942-2024)

Arthur George Bousquet was born in Winchester, Massachusetts on June 1, 1942, to Arthur Bousquet and Germaine Bousquet (née Paradis). He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on March 8, 2024, at the age of 81. The youngest of three siblings, Arthur was predeceased by his sister Constance Bousquet and is survived by his eldest sister Germaine Beiser.

Arthur’s loving wife Lélia (née Donohue) preceded him in death last March. He is survived by his five children: Antoine (Wanda), Stephanie (Barry), Elizabeth (Will), George (Celine), and Mary (Greg); along with his 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Raised in Lexington, Massachusetts, Arthur earned his Bachelor of Arts at Saint Anselm College in Man- chester, New Hampshire. He continued his education in Ottawa, Ontario, obtaining his Bachelor of Education at the University of Ottawa. It was there that he met the love of his life, Lélia. Arthur went on to teach for a brief time in Sept-Îles, Quebec and married Lélia in May 1967.

After he was recalled to the draft in September 1967, Arthur and Lélia moved to Lancaster, California where he served his four years in the United States Air Force including a tour of duty in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971. Following his military duty, Arthur and Lélia made their home in Valcartier, Quebec, where they began raising their family and nurturing Arthur’s passion for antiques. He opened his first antique store in Valcartier, later relocating to Quebec City and ultimately establishing his business on Hawthorne Avenue in Ottawa until his retirement in 2021 after 50 years in the business. Arthur’s encyclopedic knowledge of antiques propelled him to prominence within the community. He was a proud member of the Canadian Antique Dealers Association, where he served as president for several years. His contributions left an indelible mark on the field, earning him reverence and respect among his peers.

The family expresses sincere gratitude to Col- lin O’Leary, Arthur’s longtime friend and business partner for almost 40 years, whose unwavering dedication and friendship were invaluable to Arthur and the antique store.

Arthur’s devotion as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, coupled with his passion for history, languages and travel, impacted the lives of many. His sharp wit, dry humour and genuine kindness will be profoundly missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing him.

The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.

A funeral service, followed by a memorial gathering to celebrate Arthur’s life will be held at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, 217 First Avenue, Ottawa, on Saturday, March 23, at 10 a.m.