Fernand Joseph Pitre
December 12, 1937 – December 1, 2025
It is with deep sadness that the family of Fernand Joseph Pitre announces his passing on December 1, 2025.
Fernand was the sixth child of nine that were born to Leo and Amanda (St. Laurent) Pitre. He was born on December 12, 1937. He, along with his siblings, lived modestly through the post great depression years in Dalhousie, New Brunswick. As a child and throughout his life he was a lover of nature, animals and the outdoors.
Fernand was a good sportsman. As a child and young adult, he played many sports such as hockey, baseball, and football. Later in life golf, hunting, and fishing were passions.
Fernand attended Notre Dame High School where he led his class in academic standing. He was smart in mathematics and the sciences and was encouraged by his high school teacher, Jack MacLellan, to attend Saint Francis Xavier University. He obtained his Engineering Diploma at St. F.X. U. (1960) in Antigonish and received his Electrical Engineering degree at Nova Scotia Technical College (1962) in Halifax. Having graduated, and obtaining his first job as an engineer with MT&T, he met his wife Gloria (Burrell).
Fernand and Gloria married in 1964 and moved to Quebec where Fernand embarked on a career in the pulp and paper industry. He was a hardworking man, very dedicated to his work. He, Gloria, and his growing family lived in mill towns such as Temiscaming, La Tuque, and Gatineau, Quebec. The call to the Maritimes was difficult to resist and they relocated to Port Hawkesbury, NS where Fern accepted a job with Stora. In 1981, he accepted a great career opportunity which presented itself with Abitibi Price in Pine Fall, Manitoba. He fought a double bout of cancer during the late 80’s and survived despite the odds. He ended his career on a high note being the President and CEO of Pine Falls Paper Company after being instrumental in the structuring of an employee-management buyout of a mill that was destined for closure.
Fernand negotiated with unions, equity partners, banks, governments, and First Nations to complete the financing and purchase of the mill. In 1994, Pine Falls Paper Company was created. After four years of successful operation, investment, profitability, and paying off all loans, the mill was sold. He was recognized by all stakeholders for his work and later nominated as a finalist for the "Prairie Region Entrepreneur of the Year" award in 1998. In 2022, he was also nominated for the Winnipeg Heritage Museum’s "One of the Greatest People of the Winnipeg River."
Fernand and Gloria later retired to Kentville, NS in 1998. After Gloria’s passing in 2003, Fernand was fortunate to have then met Mary Marshall. Together golf, social activities, family, traveling, and wintering in Florida were his main interests.
The cottage in Clementsport was his paradise. He loved to toil and enjoyed having friends and family visit. He was very social and enjoyed people. Fern believed that no matter where you go, there are good people in every community.
Fernand was very charitable and donated to the Université Sainte-Anne for the higher education of Acadian students, a heritage he was proud of. He also contributed to other organizations such as the Valley Regional Hospital Foundation and Valley Hospice Foundation.
Besides his parents and Gloria, he was predeceased by his siblings, Amanda Pitre, Jeanette Comeau, Yvette Mockler, Richard, Raymond, and Hector.
Fernand leaves behind his partner, Mary Marshall, Kentville, NS; sons, René (Marion), Quispamsis, NB and André, Prince George, BC; six cherished grandchildren, Alexander, Chloé, Andréas, Marcella, Morgan, and Nicholas. He also leaves behind his brother, Alphonse Pitre and sister, Fernande Thoma.
Fernand had strong family values and was a supporter of his children and grandchildren. We are forever grateful for his strength, hard work, courage, guidance, wisdom and love.
Cremation has taken place. A church service and reception will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 4 at St. Louis Catholic Church, Annapolis Royal, Father Edwin Ewuzie officiating. Following the reception, interment will take place at St. Louis Church Cemetery, Saint Anthony Street. Weather permitting, after internment, a get together in remembrance will take place at the Pitre cottage at 1111 Duke Street, Clementsport.
The family would like to thank Fernand’s medical team, VON, N&S Hearts to Homecare, Valley Hospice, and Fern’s friends who supported him. A very special thank-you to Mary Marshall who greatly cared for our father throughout his illness. Donations in memory may be made to Valley Regional Hospital Foundation or Valley Hospice Foundation in Kentville. Arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.