It is with great sadness and deep sorrow we announce the passing of René Gerald Joseph Wilcott on February 26, 2019, in the Health Science Centre at the age of 63 years.

 

René passed peacefully, lovingly surrounded by his children, grandchildren, sisters, and his dear friend Lawrence. He will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his children Joshua (Stacey) Wilcott, Sarah Wilcott, and Rebecca Wilcott; grandchildren Ava Rivera, Tavin Coulthard, Hope Sandford, and sweet baby Wilcott; mother Hortense Wilcott; sisters Susan (Grant) Dugard, Lucille (Larry) Canart, and Evelyn (Kirk) Dutka; many nieces and nephews, great-niece, great-nephews and a lot of dear friends; René was predeceased by his father Julien Wilcott.

On January 10, 1956 in Pine Falls Manitoba, René was brought into this world by his parents Julien and Hortense. His younger years were spent growing up in St. George, Great Falls, and Broadlands where he was known for sleepwalking, being in the outdoors, and endlessly teasing everyone he loved. He worked hard his whole life, starting alongside his beloved father, Julien on the family farms, moving his way into the woods department for Abitibi Price, and eventually settling down and starting his own small farm and family. Moving on at Abitibi, René started apprenticing as a Millwright where he continued for the next 20+ years. These years were spent with love, laughter, and being a pain in the ass; watching his children grow up on the same farm he grew up on. The days were spent with many endless hours with the sheep, chickens, dogs, cats and, random wild pets. 

René’s life was changed when his health declined because of COPD, René was a double lung transplant recipient and survivor; on September 2, 2013 he received the gift which literally gave him a whole new chance at life which René was forever grateful for. René was there to pick you up when you were down, he would be the first person in the room to crack an inappropriate joke and he loved to bug and lived to love. His love for motorcycles especially Harleys was well known and so was blasting Celine Dion while the wind blew through his “HAIR” on his road trips and adventures with Lawrence. René made a lot of friends in his short time on earth, from back home to the friends he has made recently near and far. René will forever be remembered as Big Bad René Wilcott, Fazure, Master & Commander and Amazeman, most importantly he will be fondly remembered as a man who would always tell you like it is and his word his bond.

His children would like to thank his sister Lucille for taking the role of being René’s health advocate making all important medical decisions when he wasn’t able to do so. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We never had to make a hard decision regarding our dad, you were always there for us; we love you. Our gratitude also to his sister Susan, for taking the responsibility of René’s end of life arrangements, again from the bottom of our hearts you’ve helped us tremendously through this tough time; we love you. To the rest of our families thank you for all of your support. To the amazing staff at the Health Science Center ICU, all the doctors, nurses, and support staff, you are super heroes, you gave our father a fighting chance with the amazing and diligent care you provided. To the Manitoba Lung association thank you for all the time and work you put in to help our father, and to anyone who helped our father on his journey thank you from us all.

Celebration of René's  Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 1, 2019 in the First Unitarian Church, 603 Wellington Crescent. A private family interment will be held prior to the celebration.

 

In lieu of flowers his family asks for a charitable donation to be made in René Wilcott’s name to the Manitoba Lung Association.