River Boulanger

It is with sadness that we are announcing the passing of our son, River Boulanger. He was 28 years old. He was also a brother, an uncle and had numerous cousins.

River leaves to mourn, his parents, Errol (aka Earl) and Leona Boulanger, and his brothers, Kenyon Boucher (Amanda), Tom and Jordan Boulanger. There are numerous aunts and uncles on both sides of his family too numerous to mention. The family says, ‘Miigwech’ to all of you, the extended family members. However, we will need to acknowledge my sister, Annie Boulanger. Shortly after River was born, we asked her and her partner, Marvin Smoker, if they could be the Guardian Parents, and they graciously accepted this role. Until Marvin’s passing, they were both there supporting River. Annie continued in this supportive role. Miigwech Annie. 

River was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Wilson and Florence Boulanger, and his maternal grandmother, Clara Boucher. He is survived by his maternal grandfather, Leonard Boucher.

As I am typing this eulogy, I am crying in sadness. We should never be burying our children, but unfortunately, this sometimes happens. But we also thank God in the ‘Hope’ that he has given to our whole family, through His wonderful Son, Jesus Christ. We don’t know what we would have done without the Hope of God. I praise God for His Grace and Mercy upon our family.

River was currently attending the Aboriginal Community Campus for academic upgrading. He was tentatively accepted to the Industrial Welding Program for September 2023. He was very happy to be at the Campus and was looking forward to the Program in the fall.

River had previously graduated from a Culinary Arts program and had been employed at various restaurants, including Cora’s Restaurant, Famous Dave’s and The Don Restaurant, to name a few. After certain shifts at work, he would come home all greasy and say, “I made over a hundred dishes”. 

As so many of our young Indigenous people, River struggled with the effects of intergenerational trauma, and the everyday challenges of life that youth face. But we as his parents recall him saying to us numerous times that he was struggling, but he would say, “But I’m praying”. And I would say, “Keep on praying and God will help you”. We continued to tell him about the Salvation that is in Christ Jesus. We truly believe that he’s now in His wonderful presence. If you’re reading this, and you have children, no matter how old they are, tell them to surrender to Jesus Christ! And their names will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). And this Hope in Christ is for ALL, from the young to the old!

Pallbearers: Johnny John Neganegijig, Sage Boulanger-McLeod, Kendall Boucher, Jim Lesley Boulanger, Dave Dorian Boulanger, Ryan McGregor. Stand In Darnell Boulanger

Wake/Evening Service will be held Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Deliverance Centre Church 1831 Selkirk Avenue, from 7 pm to 11 pm. The Funeral Service will follow on Friday, May 19, 2023, at Eternal Grace Funerals 10-1111 Logan Avenue, beginning at 11 am.

Interment to follow at Brookside Cemetery

Pastor Lyle Blackbird officiating
 

Read this wonderful promise from Him who can give EVERLASTING LIFE!

John 11:25-26

Jesus said…“I am the resurrection and the life;[a] he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die…”

And

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [b]asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who [c]sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are [d]asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

PRAISE THE LORD!

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of River Boulanger, please visit our floral store.