Oh what a tangled web we weave in the process of time! As it turns out, this
burial site was in use as such for many years prior to its being officially
registered as a cemetery in the province of Saskatchewan. In fact, several
parish priests who's remains were later transferred to this second site, were
first laid to rest in an equally unregistered area encircling a statue of the
Sacred Heart (guarded by four angels each holding a torch light in an upheld
hand), which was located on church grounds in front of the old Catholic church.
These priests were: Rev. Rock Girouard (1924), Rev. Alphonse Lemieux (1925),
and Msgr Henri Kugener, P.D. (1949).
When construction of a new church was completed in 1958/59, the old church
slated for demolition and the area scheduled for division into residential
lots, it was necessary to move the Sacred Heart statue and its surrounding
angels, as well as the remains of the three priests interred there, to a new
site. Therefore, in 1959, the Sacred Heart statue and angels were moved to a
beautiful garden enclosure just south of the new Catholic rectory, and the remains
of the three priests were moved to a site directly in front of the new Catholic
church, which is partly encircled by the front entrance steps. A fourth parish
priest, Rev. Albert Latendresse, was to join them in burial at this site upon
his death in 1962.
After this, many years passed before anyone else considered being buried in
front of the church. However, in June of 1996 Rev. Roger Ducharme, though semi
retired, agreed to be assigned as parish priest in Willow Bunch. As he was from
the area (St. Victor), he showed great interest in being buried with the other
priests in front of the church upon his death. Lo and behold, in the process of
making up his will with instructions for his burial, no official record could
be found of the site as it had never been registered as a cemetery in the
Province. Needless to say, it was forthwith registered with the Provincial
Government, on June 26, 2006, as "St. Ignace Priests Cemetery", and
so it is unto this day. Upon his death in 2010 Rev. Roger Ducharme, as per his
request, was interred in this cemetery.
Though this cemetery only has a complement of six sites, and already five
priests rest here, it can still accommodate the interment of several more
priests. Reason being, when the remains of the first three priests were
transferred here, due to deterioration of their remains, all were placed in one
plot. Therefore, at least in theory, there are still three available plots.
Throughout the years, some parish ladies have graciously taken it upon
themselves to maintain this cemetery, and each spring they plant a variety of
flowers in its enclosure to embellish it and the front of the church. God bless
the parish ladies for their thoughtfulness.
All burials in the ST. IGNACE PRIESTS CEMETERY cemetery:
Ducharme, Roger Lucien Rev. | |
Notes: | Son of Simeon & Eugenie "Legare" Ducharme |
Born: | Jul 16, 1919 |
Died: | Jun 17, 2010 |
Status: | Catholic Priest - [Ordained to the Priesthood Jan 02, 1944] |
Burial Site: | ST. IGNACE PRIESTS CEMETERY |
Plot/Block: | Unknown |
Site Marker: | Site Marker/Photo # Yes |
Girouard, Rock Rev. | |
Notes: | Son of Marcel Girouard |
Born: | Dec 29, 1893 |
Died: | Oct 03, 1924 |
Status: | Catholic Priest - [Ordained to the Priesthood Dec 27, 1920] |
Burial Site: | ST. IGNACE PRIESTS CEMETERY |
Plot/Block: | Unknown |
Site Marker: | Site Marker/Photo # Yes |
Kugener, Henri Francois "Monsignor" | |
Notes: | Son of Unknown |
Born: | Jan 20, 1873 |
Died: | Jun 25, 1949 |
Status: | Catholic Priest, Domestic Prelate - [Ordained to the Priesthood Jun 01, 1901] |
Burial Site: | ST. IGNACE PRIESTS CEMETERY |
Plot/Block: | Unknown - [served as Parish Priest in Willow Bunch, Sk. for 24 years] |
Site Marker: | Site Marker/Photo # Yes - [WWI Veteran, Army - French Forces] |
Latendresse, Joseph Albert Rev. | |
Notes: | Son of Alfred & Christiane "Lemire" Latendresse |
Born: | Nov 16, 1895 |
Died: | Jun 19, 1962 |
Status: | Catholic Priest - [Ordained to the Priesthood May 26, 1929] |
Burial Site: | ST. IGNACE PRIESTS CEMETERY |
Plot/Block: | Unknown |
Site Marker: | Site Marker/Photo # Yes - [served as Parish Priest in Willow Bunch, Sk. for 13 years] |
Lemieux, Alphonse Rev. | |
Notes: | Son of Louis & Marie Zoe "Chouinard" Lemieux |
Born: | Oct 04, 1862 |
Died: | Sep 17, 1925 |
Status: | Catholic Priest - [Ordained to the Priesthood Feb 28, 1892] |
Burial Site: | ST. IGNACE PRIESTS CEMETERY |
Plot/Block: | Unknown - [He built the Catholic Church at Willow Bunch in 1906] |
Site Marker: | Site Marker/Photo # Yes - [served as Parish Priest in Willow Bunch, Sk. for 20 years] |
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