LESSARD: Peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family, at London Health Sciences Centre – University Hospital, London, on Saturday, December 30, 2023, John Thomas “Tom” Lessard of Crediton, age 86. Beloved husand of Rita Ann (Foley) Lessard. Loved father and father-in-law of Thomas and Connie Lessard of London, Glen Lessard of London, Michael and Val Lessard of Oshawa, Bill and Christine Lessard of Mississauga and Casey Lessard and Angela Michielsen of Iqaluit. Cherished grandpa of Christopher, the late Nicholas, Katie, Quinn, Abigail, Jessica, Ryan, Brittany, Will, Jonah, Iris, Hugo and Cosmo. Treasured great-grandpa of Aubrey. Dear brother and brother-in-law of Margaret Tully of Uxbridge, Nancy Zettel of Kitchener, Kathleen “Kay” Foley of Montreal, Tom and Maisey Foley of Mississauga, Richard Foley of London. Tom will be remembered by his nieces, nephews and their families. Predeceased by his parents William Warren and Viola (Malone) Lessard, siblings and -in-laws Bill and Shirley Lessard, Jim and Shirley Lessard, Bob and Millie Lessard, Gary Lessard, Patricia “Pat” and Ron Gray, Sam Tully, George Zettel, Joan McCullough, Carol and Doug Ricci and Robert Peter Foley. At Tom’s request, cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at the T. Harry Hoffman & Sons Funeral Home, Dashwood, on Sunday, January 7, 2024 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, Mount Carmel on Monday, January 8, 2024 at 11 a.m. The Rev. Fr. Vince Gulikers Celebrant. Interment Exeter Cemetery at a later date. Tom served with the Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps from 1953 to 1955 and then joined the Royal Canadian Regiment from 1955 and retired in 1971. If desired, memorial donations (payable directly) to the Huron County Food Bank (by monetary donation or food donation) or a charity of choice would be appreciated by the family.
Guest Photos
We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).
Wanda Reynolds
Rita & Family
My thoughts are with you at this time of sorrow.
Wanda Reynolds
Jack and Lynda (Parsons) Conlin
So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing……my deepest sympathy to you, Rita and all your family and friends…he will be truly missed…hold on tight to all your wonderful memories…God Bless
Bill Laura Noonan
So sorry for your loss Rita and Family . Tom has known Laura since the late 60’s and the 2 of us for over 40 yrs,always a pleasure to talk and have some laughs with . We are glad he enjoyed having Fish n Chips on Fridays since 2009 .. Our hearts go out to you and we send our Love R.I.P Tom
Bill & Laura Noonan
Michelle Underhill
Rita,
We are so deeply sorry for your loss. Tommy was the best honourary Grandpa is Underhill girls could have ever asked for. Thinking of you and sending you love
Nina Knee
Rita and Family
So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. Cherish your memories. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Nina Knee and Family
Kathie Glover
i am so sorry to hear of Tom’s passing he was loved by anyone who had the pleasure to meet this wonderful man due to the flu we can not attend but our hearts are with you all love the Glover family
Clare & Brenda (Parsons) Martene & Family
Rita & All Your Family . . .
Extending our sincerest condolences to you & your family on the loss of Tom. We have lost a wonderful Crediton neighbour. The main street of Crediton will not be the same . . . we will miss not seeing Tom sitting on the front porch reading, waving, or taking the time to have a quick chit chat when we would walk by – he had interesting stories to tell about his life, his family & our community – he was so proud to share them. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Treasure your precious memories, laughter, & tears as you travel the difficult road of grief but know you are not alone – you are in our thoughts & prayers. Xo
Sincerely, Clare & Brenda Martene & Family (Crediton, Ont.)
Carolyn Woodburn
Rita and family.I’m very sorry to hear of your husband and Dad’s death.May your many good memories help you during this difficult time.Carolyn Woodburn
Bev
Rita and family,
Sending my sincere condolences in the loss of Tom. I have so many good memories of Tom back in the Albatross days, playing Santa at our family Christmas’s, always a smile and a kind word. He will be missed.
Bev (Parker) Kline
Willie and Linda O'Rourke
To Rita and families:
Sorry to hear of Toms passing. May his memory remain bringing you comfort today and always!
Thinking of you with Sympathy,
Willie and Linda
Shari Robinson
Rita and family, we are thinking of you in this difficult time. Tom will be greatly missed by his family, neighbours and community. Sending our love and condolences. Shari and Scott
Aaron Caissie
Dear Rita and family,
We are saddened by the news of your loss of Tom, you all remain in our thoughts and prayers. What came to mind when thinking about Tom is his and Rita’s time spent helping and guiding us young kids in the Scouting movement, I thank both Tom and Rita for that.
Joe and Diane Kaak
Rita and family
Our sympathy to you and your family in the loss of your loved one
Joe and Diane Kaak
Bruce & Deb Hodge
Rita and family. We send our sincere sympathy. We will miss not seeing Tom sitting on the porch and ready for a chat, or his phone calls on the kids birthday. You are in our thoughts and prayers.at this sad time.
Dave Boyd
Rita, Condolences to you and all the family
I have good memories of Tom during our military time and of our time in Huron Park.
I first met Tom in Ipperwash, and served with him in London, Cyprus and Germany
You never knew with Tom what may happen next.
Dave and Louise Boyd
Margaret Brintnell
Rita & All Your Family – So sad to hear about Tom. Wonderful man & family & I have many memories that go back to Huron Park days. Tom always so kind & willing to help wherever he could. Rita we had a little chat before Christmas so I knew Tom was not doing well. You have been strong for him.
Accept my sincere Sympathy & I am thinking of you all.
Margaret Brintnell
Nina Knee
Rita and Family,
So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult tme.
Nina Knee and family
Bob Dawe
Rest in Peace Tom . The main street of Crediton will not be the same without your friendly wave. An awesome neighbour in Huron Park for many years and one of the pioneers of Huron Park Minor Sports. My deepest condolences to Rita and familiy
Jim Chapman
Rita and Family;
My deepest sympathy to you and your Family !!
Jeremy Becker
Sincere Condolences to the Lessard Family.
Peter and Gloria McFalls
Rita and family,
We are so sorry to read of your husband’s passing. You were so fortunate to be able to celebrate your 60th anniversary. That’s quite an accomplishment!! We’ll see you back shuffling in awhile.
Pete and Gloria McFalls
Henny Morrissey
May Tom rest in peace. He will be missed by many.
John & Linda Barrett
Rita we are sorry to hear the passing of Tom our thoughts and prayers are with you.Cherish all your memories.
Ann DeVries
Tom was a wonderful volunteer for the Exeter Terry Fox Run for many years. Hold onto your family memories of Tom. Bart and Ann DeVries
Rob Minderlein
To Rita Tom jr Glen Mike Casey and family. I always have fond memories of Tom as a kid and as well as when I was older. He was always doing things to better the community and keeping kids busy trying to keep them out of trouble. Remember all the Santa clause parades he was responsible for organizing. He will be deeply missed
Dianne Faubert
Rita and family. Our heartfelt condolence. It is hard to think of Tom not sitting on his front porch reading his books and where we would stop and chat for twenty minutes or so. He will be very much missed by everyone who knew him. If there is anything, Rita, we can do, please, don’t hesitate. We are there for you. Diane and Daryl.
Bernice Thompson
Rita;
Sincere condolences in the loss of your husband,Tom
Deb Price
To Rita and family
This is so sad to see.
He was there many a time we needed him to be, living across the road from him and Rita on Algonquin when we first came to HP.
Like when our house was hit by a car as the lady missed the curve.
When we needed checked on when my dad had a heart attack.
Memories of him reading novels on the front lawn while he soaked his feet in the kiddy pool, or the times he would put his picnic table directly on the road and sit on it to stop the speeders coming down the bend on Algonquin.
The times he did the bingos at the hall in HP or when he ran movies to entertain the kids up there.
“Jogging” with a dolly he picked out a garbage on big garbage night in a stroller and talking my mom to come along.
So many memories he gave everyone who knew him…. he will be deeply missed but never forgotten!
The Price family
Don & Joan Heywood
The Lessard Family:
Our sincere condolences in the passing of Tom. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone. Cherish the wonderful memories. Don & Joan Heywood
George and Sue Wilson
Rita and family, heartfelt condolences on Tom’s passing. He was a friendly man. He would talk to everyone. Cherish your precious memories. Hold them close to your heart. Hugs and prayers.
Linda Dietrich
Sincere sympathy to all the Lessard Family, so sorry for your loss.
Jim & Linda Dietrich.
Margaret Prout
Sending sincere condolences to Rita and to all John’s family. Cherish your wonderful memories and may they
somehow help now and in the coming days.
Harv & Evelyn Vincent
Rita and Family
Sincere sympathy in your huge loss. Tom was a good man and loved by many.
Wishing you peace and comfort
Skweeze and Dianne Gaiser
So sorry to hear of Toms’ passing. Tom was one of a kind. I remember him when I was a kid in Huron Park, then slinging beer at the Albatross keeping everyone entertained. I once saw him slither through the spokes of the wagon wheel there on a dare…lol. When we worked together at Protective Plastics he was always running a lottery and selling tickets to keep things interesting. In recent years, Tom and Rita were our neighbours in Dodge where you could see him walking the street picking up garbage and chatting even after losing his legs. Such an inspiration. We shared a love of the Habs which always made for interesting conversations. He surely will be missed. RIP Tom. You deserve it.
nancy brand
dear rita and family our deepest sympathy
Shirley McNair Bechard
Rita and Boys ,i am so very sorry to hear of this ,Tom will definetly be missed by so many ,my heart goes out to all of you .
Glenda Lather
My heartfelt condolences to Rita and family.
Brenda Morgan
Rita,, boys and families.. our hearts are broken to read about Tom. We were just speaking of him a few days ago, and wondering how he was doing. He was one of a kind that man,,,, and when we first met Tom many years ago,, I remember him as always the first one to volunteer, he never walked,, he ran to get things done. Way back when,, Huron Park would not have been the same without Tom around, to get things started, and also to get things finished. I am so sorry,, I know your hearts are broken,, and life is not going to be the same without him in your lives. He was one heck of a great guy,, and he touched so many lives in so many ways. You are all in our heavy hearts right now,, we are thinking of you during this extremely sad time in your lives.
Julie parker
Tommy was the best friend I had for most of my life… his kindness and need to help people and give time and effort to the community were an inspiration to people… the world lost a good one and I’m so glad I got to know him and call him a friend of mine… he will be greatly missed… love you guys and so sorry… Julie Parker
Gary & Susan Foote
My wife Sue and I had the pleasure of meeting Tom a few years ago when we and Mike and Val were camping at Selkirk and took a road trip up to see Mike’s childhood stomping grounds. On a visit to Tom and Rita’s we were immediately impressed by Tom’s humour and spirited attitude towards life . I don’t recall his exact words but something to the effect that Mike actually had friends …. Rest in peace Tom . Our deepest condolences to the entire family. Susan & Gary Foote .