Obituary of Leo Richard
After a courageous 25 year battle against prostate cancer, Leo passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 3, 2025, surrounded by his family at the Lakeridge Health Centre in Oshawa.
Beloved husband of Julia (nee Doucette) for 63 years. Loving father to Rob, Lynn (Mark Derrick) and Rachel (Steve Neale). Papa to Davis and Everett Neale.
Leo is also survived by his brother Jerry (late Jean) and his sister Rosalie (late Alvin Aube) and by his sisters-in-law Frances (late Emile) and Bernadette (late Fidele). Predeceased by his parents, Pierre and Eugenie (nee LeBlanc) Richard of Rogersville, NB, and his siblings Patrick (Zelia), Placide (Rita), Marcel (Bella), Nora (Yvon Leger), Melanie (Leo LeBlanc), Aurore (Yvon Richard), and Alice (Emery Boucher).
Brother-in-law of Patricia (late Emile Goguen), Stella (late Medric Thibodeau), late John (Jeannine) Doucette, Melanie (late Zoel Maillet) late Cecile (Guillaume Despres), Georges (Odile) Doucette, late Abel (Noella) Doucette, Ernestine (late Donald Gaudet), Normand (Giselle) Doucette, Bernard (Jeannita) Doucette, and Majella (Gilles Caissie). Leo will be missed dearly by scores of nieces and nephews.
Growing up in rural NB, Leo left home for Toronto at 16 years old seeking work. He’d already met the love of his life, Julia, but needed to establish himself. With limited English skills, he worked various jobs before returning to NB a year later to attend Tech School. After finishing his Auto Body Repair program, he went back to Toronto and worked in a number of shops to complete his apprenticeship. A few years passed before he reconnected with his true love during a trip back home, and they were wed on September 2, 1961.
Now a married man with a growing family to support, he landed a job at the GM plant in Oshawa. After 6 years in the factory, he boldly started his own business in 1969 (Leo’s Auto Body in Whitby) and never looked back. Some of the memorable cars he meticulously restored included a ’70 Mustang with a 428 Cobra Jet engine, a ’29 Pontiac and a ’51 GMC pickup.
A jack of all trades, he could fix almost anything and was a skilled craftsman. He enjoyed woodworking projects and was a lifelong fan of the Montreal Canadiens. An avid outdoorsman, he loved moose and deer hunting.
The family of Leo Richard will receive friends at the Wagg Funeral Home, 216 Queen Street, in Port Perry (905-985-2171) on Saturday, April 26th from 10 – 11a.m. A Service to Celebrate his life will be held at 11 a.m. If desired, memorial donations may be made by cheque to the Canadian Cancer Society. Memories, photos and condolences may be shared at www.waggfuneralhome.com
To join us online for Leo's Service please copy and paste the following link into your browser
https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/105586. (It will go live just before Service time)
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The ceremony will be available to all without a password and will be recorded for future viewing.
We would be grateful if you shared the above link with your family and friends.