GODON, Joseph Albert Ernest “Ernie”

Ernie was born October 27, 1931 (although it was officially registered as October 29) in Saint-Donat-de-Montcalm, Quebec, to parents Henri and Emma (nee Plouffe) Godon. He was the youngest of 12 children. Ernie grew up in Saint-donat but left to seek his fortune, first in Montreal and then as an officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. His first posting as a radio officer in Squadron 407, Comox BC, was on the Lancaster. In BC he met the love of his life Mary Alice (nee Brow). They were married on April 30, 1960, in Comox. Ernie and Mary raised their three children while Ernie was stationed at air forces bases in Winnipeg, MB, Centralia, ON, St. Hubert, QC, and finally with 404 Squadron in Greenwood, NS. While Ernie did not have the means to pursue higher education as a young man, by 1975 he had earned a B.A. and a B.ED. from Acadia University. In 1976 Ernie retired from the air force, moved to Gaspereau, NS, and taught French at Wolfville Junior High School for eight years. In 1984 Ernie left teaching to become a partner in Innovative Systems, an Apple computer dealership in New Minas, NS, until he sold out and retired in 1994. In his retirement he volunteered at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum and with FSNA (National Association of Federal Retirees) as well as travelling with Mary and their circle of air force friends. Ernie was an avid bridge player and with Mary as his partner they enjoyed many games with friends and at the Ken-wo duplicate bridge club. Ernie, with Mary, took great delight in their six grandchildren, spending many hours babysitting and hosting family dinners at their home in Gaspereau and cottage on Murphy Lake. Ernie never forgot a family birthday or a special occasion, even in the last week of his life. He is remembered by his family as a kind and loving man and by friends as a great guy. Ernie made friends, young and old, wherever he went, always having a joke to share. Ernie was predeceased by brothers, Romeo, Edgar, Jean Paul, Georges, Yvan, Robert and Marc; and by sisters, Agathe, Henriette, Colombe and Ruth. He is survived by his sister, Veronique; his wife, Mary Alice; his three children, Ann (Tim Roots), David (Melanie, nee Barkhouse) and Paul (Lee Ann Ferguson) and six grandchildren, Benjamin, Arthur, Dylan, Katie, Philippa, and Eden. Condolences: www.harboursidecremation.ca