Tag Archives: October 27 2021

OBITUARY: Stuart Chapman WRIGHT (1926-2021)

Stuart Chapman WRIGHT (1927-2021)

It is with profound sadness that the family announces the passing of Stuart Chapman Wright on October 18, 2021, at 95 years of age of natural causes, in his beloved lifelong home of Quebec City.

Stuart was the cherished husband of Mary Ellen Bacon Reisner (“Meb”) and the late Joan Agnes Margaret Clarke Wright (“Joann”). He was the devoted and loving father of Bradley (the late Susan Bodley) of Ottawa, and Sheryl (Malcolm Mercer) of Toronto; grandfather of Brennan (Sarah Toupin), Heather (Nicholas Waddell) of Ottawa and Emily (Mathieu Wallace) of Revelstoke, B.C. and Catherine (“Cat”) Mercer and Caroline Mercer of Toronto; and great-grandfather of Charlotte, Lillian and Evelyn of Ottawa.

Stuart was the third of four sons of the late Herbert Wright and Muriel Ramsey Wright of Quebec City. He was predeceased by his brothers Howard and Leslie, brothers-in-law Aubrey Clarke and Harold Corbett, sisters-in-law Joyce Wright, Aggie Wright, Rosamond Corbett, Mickie Clarke and Diane Clarke, and niece Kathy Corbett.

Stuart will be sadly missed by his brother Arnold and sister-in-law Mary of Calgary; his brother-in-law Justice Roderick Clarke of Thunder Bay, Ont.; his nieces and nephews: Wrights – Linda Wright Ropeleski, Sheila Neufeld, Brian, David, Ann and Caryl, Catherine, Melanie and Peggy; Corbetts – Roderick, Richard, Donald and Deborah; Clarkes – Keltie Dawn, Fraser and Wilson; cousins Pauline Joyal, Norah Ramsey, Andrew Caddell, Sheila Morgan, Jennifer Jackson and many others; George Keightley and family, and countless friends and colleagues. The support and love received directly or through the ether from all who loved Stuart was a great source of comfort to him and his family.

Stuart’s family feels blessed beyond description to have known him. He was uncommonly wise, thoughtful, kind, considerate, dignified, open-hearted, even-tempered, good-natured, loving, loyal, humble, trusting and talented; a perfect role model, though he would have demurred at the suggestion. He never bragged even though he could have backed up anything he chose to say.

Stuart loved Quebec City and its people. As a university student, he worked as a tourist guide to show off the city to all comers. A top student, he graduated from McGill University and then from Université Laval law school before embarking on a career as a bilingual notary that lasted so long – 65 years – that the Chambre des Notaires gave him a plaque. He was proud to have had a will he had drafted upheld and praised in the Supreme Court of Canada. He was an excellent athlete who downhill skied until he was 87. At 65, he wiped a 40-year-old off the tennis court, but did it with such grace that the loser felt like a winner in life.

During his last few weeks, Stuart resided at Saint Brigid’s Home, where highlights of his life were posted on the wall in his room. Under the heading “What I Don’t Like” were written “Being tickled,” but also, and more revealingly, “Disappointing anyone.” No one we know of was ever disappointed by Stuart (we don’t know how many tickled him).

Stuart belonged to the Garrison Club and Chalmers-Wesley United Church, where he spent countless contented hours. In his younger days, he belonged to the YMCA and helped ready Camp Naskapi for the summer seasons. He was a driving force behind the brilliant Y’s-A- Poppin’ variety shows, serving as co-writer, producer, director and master of ceremonies and acting in the skits in front of the curtain during the scene changes. He treated the 2,000 people in the audience as though they were friends in his living room. He was not nervous doing so because, as he put it, “It’s not about me.” Stuart was not about himself. He was about his family, his friends, and his colleagues and clients at Côté Taschereau Samson Demers. We and they were the better for it.

The family wishes to thank the marvellous staff, nurses and doctors at the Jeffery Hale Day Centre, St. Sacrement Hospital and Saint Brigid’s Home for the care and assistance they gave Stuart in his last years, months and days.

The funeral will take place at Chalmers-Wesley United Church, 78 Rue Sainte-Ursule, Quebec City, at 11 a.m., with visitation beginning at 10 a.m., on November 6, 2021, with interment at Mount Hermon Cemetery on Chemin Saint-Louis. Those wishing to attend the service via Zoom are asked to send an email to chalmers-wesley@qc.aira.com to obtain the link.

Please consider donations to the Citadel Foundation, 2000 – 1270 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec, QC G1S 2M4 or to Chalmers-Wesley United Church, 78 rue Sainte-Ursule, Quebec, QC G1R 4E8.

Community Calendar of Events – Oct. 27, 2021

Community Calendar of Events 

Compiled by Shirley Nadeau

shirley@qctonline.com

Oct. 27-31 from 7-11 p.m. – Errances: 1916 le second brasier at Église Saint-Charles-de-Limoilou, 500 8e Avenue. Rediscover the haunting history of Église Saint-Charles-de-Limoilou with a spooky guided walk produced by Machine de Cirque which combines history, fiction, theatre and circus arts. This event is not wheelchair accessible and not recommended for children under 12. Tickets must be reserved online in advance at machinedecirque.com. Tickets are $20 each and include a free drink at Microbrasserie La Souche. 

Oct. 28, 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m.Quebec Art Company presents the musical HAIR at St. Patrick’s High School auditorium, 79 Rue de Maisonneuve. Tickets ($25) are on sale now at quebecartcompany.com.

Oct. 23, 26, 28 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. – The Opéra de Québec presents L’Elisir d’amore by Gaetano Donizetti at the Grand Théâtre de Québec. This two-act opera buffa features five exceptionally talented local soloists: Catherine Saint-Arnaud (Adina), Julien Dran (Nemorino), Hugo Laporte (Belcore), Julien Véronèse (Dulcamara) and Lucie Saint-Martin (Giannetta). For more information and to reserve tickets, visit operadequebec.com

Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. – Festival de l’Halloween at the Moulin des Jésuites (7960 Boul. Henri-Bourassa in Charlesbourg) features a 1.6-kilometre haunted walk with decorations, performing scarecrows, a festive ambiance, candy, and … more candy! The activity is free but space is limited and reservations are required at moulindesjesuites.org/activite/festival-de-lhalloween.  

Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. – The Orchestre Symphonique de Québec (OSQ) presents Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at the Grand Théâtre, with soloists Lauren Margison (soprano), Allyson McHardy (mezzo-soprano), Éric Laporte (tenor) and Tomislav Lavoi (bass) and the OSQ choir. Symphony No. 9 represents the culmination of Beethoven’s genius. Reserve your tickets online at osq.org/concerts or call the Grand Théâtre box office at 418 643-8131. 

Nov. 6 at 8 p.m. – Tempêtes et Passions concert Forêt et nature will be held at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, 31 Rue des Jardins in Old Quebec. The concert will combine poetry and arias from the lyrical repertoire of Handel, Lully, Rameau, Mozart, Weber, Schubert, Fauré, Debussy, Rossini, Wagner and Bizet. For more information and to reserve tickets, visit tempetesetpassions.com

Sunday, Nov. 7 – Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Set your clocks back (fall back) before you go to bed on Saturday, Nov. 6. 

Nov. 7 at 4 p.m.Une Soirée à l’opéra at Salle Albert-Rousseau, 2410, chemin Sainte-Foy. Natalie Choquette, Lyne Fortin, Gino Quilico and Steeve Michaud will interpret some of the most beautiful airs of lyrical opera by Offenbach, Puccini, Mozart and Bizet, accompanied by six musicians directed by pianist Dominic Bouliane. For information and to reserve tickets, visit sallealbertrousseau.com/programmation/une-soiree-a-l-opera.  

Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. – Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cross of Sacrifice on Grande Allée near Porte Saint-Louis. Minute of silence at 11 a.m. 

Voice of English-speaking Québec (VEQ) offers Out and About activities for English speakers (ages 50 and up) including free transportation, and many other events including virtual visits, tours for newcomers, Baby Chat, Café au Lait Crew, info sessions on jobs with the federal public service and a virtual prenatal course. Visit veq.ca/our-community/upcoming-events for details or call VEQ at 418-683-2366. 

We’re All In This Together is a bi-weekly web series designed especially for seniors by the English Language Arts Network (ELAN). Each of the 18 episodes features entertainment, activities and conversations designed to connect with those in need of support and empathy, with a gentle reminder that we are, indeed, all in this together. Episodes released so far can be found on YouTube (search for “We’re All In This Together Senior Web Series”) and Facebook (search for “WereAllInThisTogetherQuebec”) and are available for all to enjoy.