Ernest (Ernie) Delorme

In  Loving Memory of
Ernest (Ernie)
Delorme
age 99

Ernie was predeceased by his wife Imelda (Dupuis) and grandsons Jordan and Louis. 

He is lovingly remembered by his children Yvonne and (George) Jansen, Roger and (Hélène) Delorme, Mariette and (Bill) Howatt, Gerry and (Darlene) Delorme, Laurie and (Scott) McPherson, as well as their families.

Died
September 10, 2021
Foyer Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba

Public Graveside Service
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Mariapolis Our Lady of Assumption
Roman Catholic Cemetery
Mariapolis, Manitoba
3:00 p.m.

Please click here to view Ernie's Mass & Graveside Service ~ https://vimeo.com/606209324

Donations in memory of Ernie may be made
to the Foyer Notre-Dame;
Box 190 - 40 Rogers Street
Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, MB R0G 1M0,
or to a charity of one’s choice.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to all of the staff at the Foyer Notre-Dame for the

wonderful care Dad received these past two and a half years.

Ernie's Eulogy

Ernest (Ernie) Napoleon Delorme

January 26, 1922 – September 10, 2021

Ernest Napoleon Delorme, affectionately known as Ernie, was born on January 26, 1922, in the Dry River District, the second child of Tom and Alma (Chassé) Delorme. His close-knit family included siblings Alvin, Leona, Reta, Teddy, Mildred, Eleanor, Velma and Leonard.
    
Ernie grew up on the farm and walked four miles to the Dry River School to get his education. He loved sports and the outdoors.  Along with his brothers and cousins, they would play hockey on the Pembina River, using – as he’d say “a stick that had a little curve in it".  Pucks were anything “they could chase around on the ice that would not break up". In the early 30s they would listen to Hockey Night in Canada on the radio with Foster Hewitt. He would often tell the story of one night when the batteries went dead on the radio. His parents took him in the horse and cutter to hear the hockey game at the neighbours because they knew Ernie would be sorely disappointed to miss it.

Ernie worked on the farm and for local farmers before joining the Army in 1942. He served in the Royal Canadian Artillery protecting the Canadian West Coast until he was sent to England. When the war ended in Europe he signed on for the Pacific Force until the war ended there, thus serving for three years and three months. When Ernie returned to Winnipeg, he started working for building contractors. And shortly thereafter, as fate would have it, he met a beautiful woman named Imelda Dupuis on a blind date.  They were married on November 19, 1946 in St. Jean Baptiste in a double ring ceremony with Imelda's sister, Laurette and Albert St. Hilaire. 

From that day on Ernie and Imelda, always did everything side by side whether in work or in fun and were married for 63 years. Together, Ernie and Imelda lived and worked in Winnipeg for a couple of years and welcomed their first daughter Yvonne. In May 1949, they bought a farm in the Stuartville District.  There they worked side by side to raise their five children, Yvonne, Roger, Mariette, Gerry and Laurie. Then they farmed there on top of the Pembina Valley until 1967, when they bought and moved to another farm at St. Alphonse where it grew to a mixed grain and dairy operation. For many years, the family would return to the Pembina Valley for Sunday hikes or berry-picking.  

When Roger and Hélène took over the farm, Ernie and Imelda retired and built a new house in the neighbouring yard.  In 1997, they made their final move to Manitou. At this house in Manitou, the previous owners had a couple of large rocks as part of the landscaping. However, Ernie remembering the days of stone picking on the farm, promptly had them removed!

For Ernie, baseball was the game for summer, and he was a very good pitcher.  His brother Teddy, who was usually the back catcher, often said he wasn't quite sure where the ball would come from when Ernie was pitching because of his 'mean curve '.  He even played ball in the Army when they found out that he could pitch. Over the years, Ernie played with the Dry River team, the Baldur softball team, the Mariapolis Blues, and the St. Alphonse Braves. Age didn't slow him down as he joined the Manitoba Society of Seniors softball team as a pitcher when he was 78. The team won several medals. In 1968, Ernie became a softball ASSC representative for the southwest region of Manitoba. His job was to recruit teams for the provincial playoffs and help setting up clinics. Thus, in 2013 Ernie was inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame in the Builders Category. Us kids were always so proud of our Dad’s skills and accomplishments, yet he always remained very humble and gracious.

Music was a big part of life in the Delorme family. Ernie, for his part, played the violin.  He played at many amateur fiddling contests, and even at the Manitou Coffee House up until his 95th year; he was an inspiration to many people.  He enjoyed playing with the Funtastics Dance Band in Manitou, a music group of fiddlers and other musicians. Many in the family have followed his lead with a love for music.

Using his woodworking talent, Ernie started working with Leo Sterling Construction in 1961. Each house Grandpa lived in received his touch as various additions or renos. We would give him woodworking plans with strings attached because we wanted that item, and he would quietly make it. Every family member has a memento of his fine carpentry skills.

In 1963, Ernie entered a Kellogg's Cornflakes contest and won a Ford Falcon convertible. The contest logo was "A car a week free all through '63".  With the new car the family took their first big vacation trip to Vancouver. The family still has the car and takes good care of it like Dad would.
 
Grandpa Ernie always enjoyed the family gatherings we had every Father's Day, and at Christmas. He loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren very much and always took great interest in what they were doing.
 
During his retirement years, it gave the family great joy to see him and grandma traveling across North America and overseas, dancing and visiting friends and relatives. 
 
We will remember our Dad and Grandpa as a gentle and kind man, and also a man of faith which provided him with great fortitude and strength. Rarely sick, always physically strong and ready to do things, he never saw himself as ‘old’ or frail even as he entered his 90’s. We are so grateful for his good health and a full life so well lived.  

As Catherine Reid, one his grand-daughters shared, 

“When I think of Grandpa Ernie I think of the Fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  He showed us how to live those words for almost a century and that example will be his lasting gift to us.”

Photo Slideshow 

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