Claude Robert Keruzore

Loving husband to Linda Keruzore (Fitzsimmons, nee Gray) (retired Federal Express Executive Assistant); He was father to Paul (retired CP Police), Gary (retired OPP) and Renee Timmins; Step-father to Linda’s children, Kathie Vanular, Stephen Fitzsimmons, Penny Greczi, Mark Fitzsimmons and Wendy Hebert; and Beloved Grandfather and Great-Grandfather to all their families.

Claude was born on May 17, 1935, in Paris, France to Marie-Antoinette and Louis Keruzore from Chateauneuf du Faou, from the northwest Brittany coast, France.

At the outbreak of WWII, like many young Paris city children, Claude and his older brother Louis were billeted outside Paris to farms for safety, traveling in an open back truck. Mama Yvonne and Papa Jean in south France picked Claude, the ‘Petite’ one, whose eyes reached just over the truck back rail. The farm family wanted one child and agreed on these two brothers to keep them together. Later in the war his brother Louis was sent to live in eastern France near the Switzerland border on another farm. The brothers returned to their mother in Paris at war end. His father Louis survived the Second War in a prisoner-of-war camp and came home later, unfamiliar to Claude.

Claude remembered vividly a day sweeping at the top of the church stairs in that village when a German vehicle with soldiers drove up to him to ask where to find a man (everyone in the town knew the man, even Claude, their mayor). He remained silent with a soldier’s gun pointed at his head. The soldier tapped his head, warned him and departed.

As a boy Claude travelled from their Paris apartment to deliver lunch to his father’s work on les Champs-Elysees. His father worked as a guard at Cartier Jewelry in central Paris behind the entrance doors. Claude told how a gun was held to shoot on sight any intruder not recognized at the inside door. Returning to Cartier Jewelry in later years, he told their staff his story, and made a purchase in memory to this time.

Claude stepped on Canadian soil at age 18 in 1954. He first lived in Cobourg, Ontario.

His catering experience began serving in a fine restaurant in Toronto north at Bathurst and Steeles, where he made lifelong friends. Afterwards, he drove for Jiffy Coffee truck serving coffee and lunches in Toronto and learning the coffee truck business. When Jiffy closed, Claude bought his own coffee truck and painted Frenchy’s Catering on its side. His route followed The Junction-area car repair shops and Grace Meat Packers in the Stockyards, Toronto. Through his coffee truck business to his friends and his neighbours on Evesham Cres in Brampton, he was Frenchy.

Kind neighbours on Evesham shared stories and exchanged coffee and cooking for years. In the last Christmas day in his home his neighbor Patricia, ahead of her own family dinner preparation, made his favourite lamb, for which we are grateful. A walk past Claude’s front door brought dog cookies and stories. Ducks and local birds began and ended their day on the Evesham lawn and driveway.

Claude loved fine French cooking and entertaining, travel and photography. He visited France many times and saw the world by cruises with Linda. From meeting undersea ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau in Hamilton to flying in the France Concord and viewing the upper sky and curve of the planet, Claude lived a life we dream from sea-2-sea. Linda and Claude traveled in their RV throughout North America, with a license plate C2C.

A pride of Claude’s making is his stagecoach. He built all parts by hand even carving its wheels, all from watching TV western movies for its design. The project will be continued with carriage horses and an insignia painted door by Renee, who has her father’s touch for fine detail and the patient making of beautiful things. This last year he wanted to finish it, and she made its miniature leather bags, carriage lights and baskets.

Since July 2022, Claude resided at Woodhall Park Care Community, Kennedy Rd in Brampton. We thank the many care staff and recreation team who brought their talents and good cheer to him. He made new friends in residence at Woodhall Park, where the cardinals and other birds found his Meadow courtyard window.

He is missed by all who knew him.

Family and friends can meet to remember Claude at Andrews Community Funeral Centre, 8190 Dixie Rd, Brampton, Ontario on Monday, December 4, 2023, from 11am-12pm. Reception in the lounge of funeral home following the Celebration of Life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Scott Mission, Toronto, in his honour.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.andrewscommunityfuneralcentre.com for the Keruzore family.