Corporal Étienne Gonthier’s Funeral

[Nfld Sapper]

News Release

News Release
Corporal Étienne Gonthier’s Funeral
5 GBMC.08.18 - January 30, 2008

Valcartier Garrison, Québec – The military funeral of Corporal Étienne Gonthier will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 2nd, at the Saint-Georges Church, located at 1890, 1st Avenue West, City of Saint-Georges, in the Chaudière-Appalaches Region. Corporal Gonthier died in Afghanistan on January 23.

Fellow citizens who would like to honour Corporal Gonthier are welcome to do so on February 2nd, along the funeral procession route which will travel past 1st Avenue West, starting from Maison Roy & Giguère Inc. funeral home to Saint-Georges Church. The funeral procession will make a slight detour on 19th Street and 2nd Avenue. The procession should leave Maison Roy & Giguère Inc. funeral home around 10:45 a.m.

Visitation
When: Friday, February 1st, 2008, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Where: Maison Roy & Giguère Inc. funeral home, located at 2550, 1st Avenue West, City of Saint-Georges

Those who would like to offer their condolences or their support to the family can make a donation at the Fondation du CHUQ – Neonatology : (418) 525-4385 or www.fondationduchuq.org (French only).

Born in Québec, Corporal Étienne Gonthier joined the Canadian Forces on July 21st, 2004. A Combat Engineer, Étienne’s was a member of 5 Combat Engineer Regiment, based in Valcartier. He was 21 years old and was on his first tour overseas.

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Notes to the Editor/News Director:
Members of Corporal Gonthier’s family wish that the media representatives respect their privacy throughout this difficult time of grieving, and therefore they have chosen not to accept any interviews. Please note that the media will be accepted inside and outside the church during the funeral ceremony, however family members have requested that no images or sounds are to be recorded inside the church.

Inquiries regarding the deceased or the funeral ceremony may be addressed to :
Captain Jean-Pierre Turcotte
Public Affairs Officer
Phone: (418) 694-5560 ext. 5670
Cellular: (418) 651-3259

 

[Mike Baker]

Link

Soldier killed in Afghanistan to be buried

ST-GEORGES-DE-BEAUCE, Que. -- Friends and family of the latest Canadian fatality in Afghanistan are preparing to pay their last respects at a funeral today south of Quebec City.

Cpl. Etienne Gonthier from St-Georges-de-Beauce was killed by a roadside bomb on Jan. 23.

The 21-year-old was on his first foreign mission and was due to return from his stint in Kandahar in March.

He had just been promoted to corporal from sapper, but the news didn't have time to reach him before he died.

Gonthier was the 78th Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002.