Obituary for Joseph Robert Gelinas
JOSEPH ROBERT SAMUEL GELINAS
“Bobby”
March 17, 1946 - June 06, 2020
It is with profound sadness that we say goodbye to Bobby, who fought as hard as he could against severe health issues over the last few years until his body had enough. He was in his 75th year. A loving brother, uncle and brother-in-law, he was pre-deceased by his mother Kathleen and his father Maurice and siblings Joe, Eddy and Carol-Ann. Loving brother to sisters Glenda, Helen, Sandra, Susan and brother Norm.
Being a young gay man in the 70s and early 80s wasn’t an easy life but as a true testament to his character, he refused to hide who he was. He took action to live the life he wanted and to live the life he was supposed to live. He was an inspiration to many. Bobby lived big and loved big no matter the consequences. He was a proud uncle who held his 26 nieces and nephews, as well as his great and great-great nieces and nephews, close to his heart. He loved to tease them and seemed to find great pleasure in getting them into trouble with their parents. He was so proud to hear about their successes and accomplishments. He never failed to make them laugh and always made them feel they were special to him. Bobby loved disco, loved dancing and loved to party - cranking up the tunes on one of his prized stereos, not only listening to but singing along with his favorite divas - Céline, Babs, and Patsy, to name a few. Although born and raised in the small CN town of Capreol, he loved to travel and he lived in sunny hot places like Hawaii and San Diego where he worked as a bartender before settling in Vancouver. He had a love for the west and bought a house in Saskatchewan, where he lived until his health and missing his family brought him to St. Luke’s Independent Living Retirement Home in Cambridge. Bobby will be remembered for always trying to make a person feel good with a compliment or a kind deed; his non-stop chatter; his teasing, joking and deep laughter; his phone calls and never-ending voicemails with Gloria Gaynor’s “I will Survive” and a chirping bird in the background; his 4 sugar, 3 cream McDonald’s coffees; and his passion for bees, insects, butterflies and birds. We love you Bobby and we miss you already. In lieu of flowers, donations to the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area at (acckwa.com.) would be appreciated.
Funeral Service in the Lougheed Funeral Home, Hanmer/Capreol Chapel, 4605 Michelle Drive, Hanmer, on Thursday, June 11th, 2020 at 11am. Due to COVID-19 directives, 10 people or fewer may attend. Interment in the Capreol Cemetery. For donations and messages of condolence, www.lougheed.org.
The Funeral can be watched via the ZOOM App by clicking here.
Donations to:
THE AIDS COMMITTEE OF CAMBRIDGE, KITCHENER, WATERLOO & AREA
BN: 133832543RR0001
Our Vision:
At ACCKWA, we work toward a future where new HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually-transmitted or blood-borne infections are rare in Waterloo Region. People living with HIV will feel that maintaining health, well-being and full community participation are achievable, realistic goals.
Our Mission:
Through responsive programming and multi-sectoral collaboration, ACCKWA
will:
.Work towards the reduction of HIV, hepatitis C, and other sexually-transmitted and blood-borne infections in Waterloo Region.
.Address the social determinants of health that create stigma, discrimination, and vulnerability for our service users.
.Provide excellent HIV care and support to individuals, families and most-affected communities.
“Bobby”
March 17, 1946 - June 06, 2020
It is with profound sadness that we say goodbye to Bobby, who fought as hard as he could against severe health issues over the last few years until his body had enough. He was in his 75th year. A loving brother, uncle and brother-in-law, he was pre-deceased by his mother Kathleen and his father Maurice and siblings Joe, Eddy and Carol-Ann. Loving brother to sisters Glenda, Helen, Sandra, Susan and brother Norm.
Being a young gay man in the 70s and early 80s wasn’t an easy life but as a true testament to his character, he refused to hide who he was. He took action to live the life he wanted and to live the life he was supposed to live. He was an inspiration to many. Bobby lived big and loved big no matter the consequences. He was a proud uncle who held his 26 nieces and nephews, as well as his great and great-great nieces and nephews, close to his heart. He loved to tease them and seemed to find great pleasure in getting them into trouble with their parents. He was so proud to hear about their successes and accomplishments. He never failed to make them laugh and always made them feel they were special to him. Bobby loved disco, loved dancing and loved to party - cranking up the tunes on one of his prized stereos, not only listening to but singing along with his favorite divas - Céline, Babs, and Patsy, to name a few. Although born and raised in the small CN town of Capreol, he loved to travel and he lived in sunny hot places like Hawaii and San Diego where he worked as a bartender before settling in Vancouver. He had a love for the west and bought a house in Saskatchewan, where he lived until his health and missing his family brought him to St. Luke’s Independent Living Retirement Home in Cambridge. Bobby will be remembered for always trying to make a person feel good with a compliment or a kind deed; his non-stop chatter; his teasing, joking and deep laughter; his phone calls and never-ending voicemails with Gloria Gaynor’s “I will Survive” and a chirping bird in the background; his 4 sugar, 3 cream McDonald’s coffees; and his passion for bees, insects, butterflies and birds. We love you Bobby and we miss you already. In lieu of flowers, donations to the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area at (acckwa.com.) would be appreciated.
Funeral Service in the Lougheed Funeral Home, Hanmer/Capreol Chapel, 4605 Michelle Drive, Hanmer, on Thursday, June 11th, 2020 at 11am. Due to COVID-19 directives, 10 people or fewer may attend. Interment in the Capreol Cemetery. For donations and messages of condolence, www.lougheed.org.
The Funeral can be watched via the ZOOM App by clicking here.
Donations to:
THE AIDS COMMITTEE OF CAMBRIDGE, KITCHENER, WATERLOO & AREA
BN: 133832543RR0001
Our Vision:
At ACCKWA, we work toward a future where new HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually-transmitted or blood-borne infections are rare in Waterloo Region. People living with HIV will feel that maintaining health, well-being and full community participation are achievable, realistic goals.
Our Mission:
Through responsive programming and multi-sectoral collaboration, ACCKWA
will:
.Work towards the reduction of HIV, hepatitis C, and other sexually-transmitted and blood-borne infections in Waterloo Region.
.Address the social determinants of health that create stigma, discrimination, and vulnerability for our service users.
.Provide excellent HIV care and support to individuals, families and most-affected communities.