The Bigbie Family
My Deepest Sympathy Too The Family
BEGBIE, Warren
1937 - 2024
Warren Begbie passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at the Hôtel-Dieu hospital on February 23rd at the age of 86.
Warren was the youngest of five children of the late Alexander George Begbie, originally of Bloomsbury, London, England, and the late Mary Albertina Lennon, originally of Waterville, Quebec. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Rose-Marie Duval; his sons, Matthew (Sarah Haddon) and James; and his three adored grandchildren, Katelyn Ross (Dmitry Ryabtsev), and Julia and William Begbie (their mother Amelia Kingsley). He also leaves behind his sisters Marian (late Arthur Pattenden) of Duncan, British Columbia, and Roberta (late Robert Hampson) of Vancouver.
Warren was predeceased by his sister Gwendolyn (late François Fontaine) and brother George (Zalieka Rahaman).
He was also blessed with many loving nieces and nephews: Elizabeth, Carol, Deborah, Christine, and Julie Fontaine; Eric, Shaun, Patricia and Chad Pattenden; and Farah Begbie.
Born in Sherbrooke, Warren attended St. Patrick’s Academy. As a young teenager, he was a member of 67 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets, where he learned to play the trumpet. Playing music would be a life-long passion for Warren and he would go on to learn to play the saxophone, percussion, and the piccolo.
Warren came from a military family. His father Alexander served in the South African War and in the First World War as a medic with the Canadian Army Medical Corps. His uncle, Joseph Lennon, served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Warren himself started his military career as a reservist with the Sherbrooke Regiment, where his brother George was an officer, before enlisting in the regular force of the Canadian Army with the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Petawawa, Ontario in 1954. Military service would bring a life of travel and adventure for Warren. Fluently bilingual, Warren transferred to the French-speaking Royale 22ieme Régiment, the “Vandoos”, in 1957. He was then deployed to Germany for his first tour of duty with Canada’s NATO contingent in Europe from 1957 to 1959. In 1961 he earned his paratrooper wings at the Canadian Airborne Centre in Rivers, Manitoba and served in his regiment’s parachute unit tasked with acting as a rapid reaction force to defend the Canadian north. During these years, Warren was also a musician with the regiment’s drum and bugle band known as “La Clique”. He also played saxophone in a jazz and pop quintet “The Alley Cats” with his army buddies.
From 1968 to 1969, Warren was a United Nations peacekeeper in Cyprus. Here he met fellow peacekeepers from many countries and struck upon the idea of projecting CBC Hockey Night in Canada film reels at the camp of the Finnish UN contingent. His initiative was a massive hit with the hockey-loving Finns.
Warren was redeployed to Germany in 1969 for a second tour of duty with NATO. He married his long-time girlfriend Rose-Marie in Germany in 1970, and his two sons were born there. While in Germany, Warren played saxophone in the town band of Malterdingen. Warren returned to Canada in 1974 and became drum major of the drum and bugle band at the Citadel fortress in Quebec City. His final year of service saw him tasked with assisting civilian authorities at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
Retired from the military, Warren settled with his family in Scotstown. He soon became a regular presence at Legion halls across the Eastern Townships and played the bugle and drums at countless Remembrance Day ceremonies and veterans’ burials for over 35 years. He enjoyed military comradeship and was particularly fond of the veterans of the defence of Hong Kong and the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment.
Warren was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and uncle. He was a kind, friendly, outgoing and compassionate man with a soft spot for animals and a keen interest in people from other cultures. He was also a voracious reader of history and engineering and enjoyed woodworking.
Warren’s sons are honoured to have had him as their father and his wife was steadfast in her love for him for over 60 years. He will live on in the hearts of his grateful family.
The Begbie family would like to extend their gratitude to the medical team of the intensive care unit at Hôtel-Dieu for their excellent care and kindness.
A private family church service and burial will be held this spring.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Operation Smile Canada. https://operationsmile.ca/
Write your sympathies or tribute
11 messages received
The Begbie family
We are so sorry for your loss.
Matthew Begbie
My deepest sympathy to you and your family .
The Family
So sorry to hear. We will him at all the Remberence Day ceremonies.
A true Townshipper. RIP Warren
Rose-Marie, Matthew and James
Mes sympathies les plus sincères à vous trois et tous les membres de votre famille. J'ai lu avec attention tout ce qui est écrit sur la carrière et vie privée de Warren et laissez-moi vous dire que j'en savais au moins 99% de tout ce qui est écrit. Warren fut le seul ami que j'ai eu depuis 1964, et on a tellement eu de plaisir à jaser et faire des activités ensemble. Moi je l'instruisais sur tout ce qui se passe sur une ferme et lui de tout ce qui se passe dans le monde. Une vraie encyclopédie ce Warren. On pouvait aborder tous les sujets et il pouvait toujours me surprendre par un détail oublié. Il me manquera ce Warren. Toute ma famille le connait très bien; car j'en ai tellement parlé et je l'imitais souvent pour faire rire les miens. J'ai écrit sur lui, beaucoup d'aventures qu'on a vécues ensemble et on s'appelait par notre nom de Famille. Lui c'était Begbie et moi Maheu . Je ne l'oublierai jamais
Serge Maheu, March 7, 2024
The Begbie Family
We send our deepest sympathies to all of you. Warren was a warm and supportive grandfather and member of the family. We will never forget his stories, jokes and delicious cooking.
-Katelyn, Dmitry and Tanya (Dmitry’s mum)
Katelyn Ross, March 10, 2024
The Begbie Family
Please accept our deepest sympathies on the passing of your husband, your Dad.
We will always hear his bugle on Remembrance Day.
Wendy and Bing MacIver
Rose-Marie
Je viens de lire l'avis de décès de ton mari Warren, je t'offre toutes mes sympathies et je prie le Seigneur de l'accueillir dans son royaume.
Je prie pour toi pour que tu puisses traverser cette dure épreuve.Bon courage.
Thérèse & Jacques Tremblay, March 19, 2024
Rose-Marie, Matthew & Jimmy
My sincere condolences on the passing of a great man. He will be missed. Keep well and I hope to see you soon!
Rose-Marie, Matthew and James
We were saddened to hear about Warren’s passing. Please know that our hearts go out to you and we join you in thought during this difficult time. We are reminded that we will all gather once again in the afterlife and be joyful once again. Thank you for the wonderful description of his life and service. Big hugs to you all.
Tante Rose-Marie, James et Mathieu
Mes très profondes sympathies .Je garde un excellent souvenir d oncle Warren.
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