Vanier

My family and I, our story with Benedict.

I have known Benedict since 1973 when I applied to work at the Fromagerie d'Oka where it was owned by the Cistercian monastery.

The first job of the morning at the fromagerie was to shovel the solution mix to create the cheese curds in those big stainless steal pot, to then transfer the curds in the canvas sheets which give the round shape of the famous cheese.

After lunch we went to the basement where we applied a salty water solution to harden the cheese creating its crust like skin, and to repeat this process on a daily basis. Me and my co-workers during some coffee break used to steal a cheese once in a while to eat right there and to hide the crust in the water drain which made the monks jumping around in trying to find out who were the culprits but deep down they knew and pretended not knowing who :-) .

After 2 months, I quit this job due to the fact that my skin and hair was embedded with the strong smell of cheese that I couldn't get rid of even though I washed myself with a strong soap bar for long periods of time.

Benedict was a passive and a gentle person always there to help anyone in need. My second meeting with Benedict was 34 years later in 2008 with my wife and my mother, and to follow our yearly meetings in Québec until 2010. But benedict and I, always kept in touch almost every second month by phone until 1 month before his passing.

My parents since the '70s kept a close-knit with Benedict by visiting him often at the monastery and bringing with them Benedict's favorite, a lemon pie meringue until their death in 2007 & 2011.

Benedict is missed by all of us, nothing last on this earth, so love everyone you care for as they may not be there tomorrow.

If some of you wish to see more photos of Benedict, please visit my site at: www.RobertVanier.com

Mon épouse et moi meme offrons a la communauté et à la famille de mon petit, petit, cousin frère Benedict de notre arbre géanologique nos condoléances.

Ma femme Ruth et moi offrons à la communauté et
à la famille de notre ami feu Père Bénédict Vanier nos vives condoléances. Nos pensées et nos prières vous accompagnent.
Émile Boucher
3853 ave François-Foucault
Laval H7E 1L1
emile.boucher@videotron.ca

Sincère sympathie à toute la communauté
et à la famille. Line et moi prions pour frère Bénédicte
et pour tous ces frères qui nous illumines de leurs prières et leurs écoutes