Joseph Henry Desjarlais

Henry was born in 1930 in St. Lazare Manitoba in a French Canadian/Metis family to parents Francois and Marguerite Desjarlais. Henry was the second of 11 children. On the farm in St. Lazare in the Depression years, Henry lived in poverty with no running water, medicine or other things we take for granted today. Henry’s early experiences shaped his love for family and the desire for the well-being of others.

Henry married Elizabeth (Betty) Farion, from an influential Ukrainian-Canadian family in Manitoba. In search of a better life after the tough Depression years, many Manitoba families migrated West to British Columbia. Henry and his family decided to settle in the community of Maillardville in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Henry had a strong work ethic and a practical grounded wisdom forged on the Prairies during the Depression years. Henry flourished in the construction industry working with his brothers and then later his sons.

Over the years Henry and his family lived in Surrey and then Abbotsford, where his faith, community involvement and love for people were expressed in his service as a church elder and pastor. After his first wife Betty passed away suddenly at age 59, Henry married Carol Flaherty and they soon moved to North Vancouver where they spent many years together.

Henry was a great storyteller about life lived in Manitoba. When he told stories, listeners could feel the emotions of the events through what he was saying. One thing that was consistent was a love of the fiddle and Metis traditional music.

Those who lived, worshipped and worked alongside Henry saw the importance of family, faith, humor, relationality, support and hard work. Henry was always giving to those in need and believed in the power of prayer. In spite of the many challenges in his life, including illness in later years, Henry was always kind, humorous and grateful. In the end, it is the love, acceptance and sense of belonging grounded in home and family and relationships that defines his legacy. We believe that we will see Henry again one day when we reunite with him and other family members. We find that reality very hopeful!

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.woodlawnfh-abbotsford.com for the Desjarlais family.