DESGROSSEILLIERS, Yvon (Ivan) Joseph - 77, passed away early morning on Tuesday, January 23rd at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, Ontario.
He was the widower of Carol Elizabeth (nee Henry) and beloved father of Cynthia of Toronto, Peter of Lindsay, and Michelle (Ron Fitch) of Coboconk.
Predeceased by his son Timothy, who died on September 8, 2017 in a workplace accident.
A huge part of Dad went with Tim.
Born in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario in 1940, Ivan was the son and second child of Armand Joseph and Nora Mary (nee Bazinet).
He is survived by his sister Imelda (Gord Holmes) of Toronto and brother Paul of Lindsay.
Predeceased by his sisters Lorraine (Bruce Best), Armande, and Lillian. Ivan worked for almost 40 years (38.7 years exactly) at General Motors in Oshawa, and is remembered by friends there.
Ivan was a shy, gentle man who loved his family deeply – close friends and in-laws became his family, with special mention to his brother-in-law Bruce Henry and neighbour Louis Spiterri.
Despite a separation from his wife Carol, he continued to support her, care for her, help put a roof on her home, and love her until his death.
Ivan was a great father, but his greatest joys in life were his four grandchildren, Keevan, Gavin and Dani Fitch and Vanessa Johnston – and they adored him, calling him “the greatest grandpa ever”.
His sense of humour was sly with most people, but loud and insulting with his sons (to the horror of his daughters).
For family and friends, there was not much he wouldn’t do for them, except appear in public or make speeches.
A voracious reader in later years, he absorbed fiction, biography, non-fiction and humour.
He was our hero and we will miss him all our lives.
Visitation is at STODDART FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTRE (24 Mill St. in Lindsay) on Friday, January 26th, from 2 to 4 pm, and 7 to 9 pm. Services will be held at Stoddart on Saturday, January 27th at 1pm, with visitation preceding from 12 to 1pm.
All are welcome at the graveside service at Riverside Cemetery (347 Lindsay St. S.) following the service, with a reception at Celebrations (35 Lindsay St. N.). The family would welcome any memories of Ivan you have, if you’d like to share at the visitations or send to
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Threads of Life Canada (www.threadsoflife.ca, to support families of loved ones killed in workplace accidents) or to the Canadian Cancer Society (www.cancer.ca).
Online condolences may be directed to stoddartfuneralhome.com.
{fastsocialshare}