Of Freelton, Ontario, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2023, of renal failure.
Marcel was born on January 4, 1939 to Honore and Marie Agnes Parent, in Montreal, Quebec and was one of 12 children.
While serving in the Canadian Air Force and earning his degree in computer science, in 1959 he met Jocelyne Durand from Chicoutimi, Quebec. The two were happily married in April 1961 and had five children.
He loved cooking for his family and enjoyed making delicacies like kidneys and onions (not bad), homemade donuts (yum), and one time, calfs brain (yuck).
Marcel worked for stats Canada and flew around the country fixing computers. He would return home with presents for the family and even managed to fly back from California suit-casing five sleek shiny skateboards for the kids.
A visionary and ahead of his time, Marcel was a technology pioneer entering the cellphone industry in the early 80’s.
He was a free spirit spending summers sailing his family around Lake Ontario. Besides enjoying the open water, his hobbies included skiing, playing cards, hiking, and occasionally nude volleyball.
A dedicated snowbird after retiring, he enjoyed wintering in Yuma, Arizona, but could not resist the desire to spend his last ten years together with his beloved youngest daughter Isabel and her husband Tom, making scores of new friends at the Fernwood Resort, who all grew to love his charm, good nature and easygoing ways.
Marcel was predeceased by his wife Jocelyne in 1999, and his son Roger in 2010. He is survived by his siblings: Bernard, Solange, Annette, Francine and Hugette; his daughters: Mimi, Diane, Sonia and Isabel; and his grandchildren, Brent, Maeghan, Hayden, Trinity (Kai), and Peter. Marcel will be sorely missed by all.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.
Memorial contributions to Hospice Wellington would be appreciated.
A tree will be planted in memory of Marcel A. Parent in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.