Joseph "Mervin" Garneau

It is with deep sadness that our family announces the passing of Joseph "Mervin" Garneau of Ebb and Flow First Nation on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at the age of 74 years.  Mervin passed away at the Health Sciences Centre with his family by his side.  

Dad worked at CN Rail for 35 years as a machine operator before retiring in the early 2000's.  After retiring, he took up helping his friends and family in anyway that he could, from giving them rides to buying them a coffee and just sitting and chatting when they needed it.  In 2019, he had back surgery which could have given him a 50/50 chance to walk, dance and do all of the activities he enjoyed.  

In 2021 after being diagnosed with dementia, Dad moved into the Holy Family Home on Aberdeen in Winnipeg.  The staff on the St. Francis floor were very caring, loving and compassionate towards our dad and our family during his hardships.  He really respected the workers at Holy Family and it went both ways.  The staff always treated him like family.  

Dad enjoyed going to D.O.T.C days.  He enjoyed the square dancing, even having been on a couple of teams himself in his life.  He was a big hockey fan and always had NHL games on TV.  Dad played with the Ebb and Flow Flyers in the 1970's.  He loved cruising around the city listening to his fiddle tunes.  Dad was very proud of his daughter Dora for having picked up the fiddle and would rave about her talent to anybody whenever he had the chance to do so.  Dad is loved and will be missed by everyone dearly.  

Mervin was predeceased by his wife Valerie Garneau, his parents Dora Garneau and Fred Flett, his step-mom Mary Flett, his son Byron Malcolm, his sisters Myrtle Racette & Sylvia Mousseau, his brothers Clifford and Delbert Garneau, his brothers-in-law Freeman Mousseau and Don Racette, his nephews Dino Baptiste and Delbert Houle and his niece Lena Mousseau.  

He leaves to mourn his passing; his children Adrienne Flatfoot, Dora Garneau, and Nicholas Everton, his grandchildren Aaliyah, Alicia, Angelena, Thunderstorm and Blaise, his sisters Myrna Garneau, Rhonda McCloud, Beatrice Delorme, Laverne Saar,  his brothers Manuel (Rena) Houle,  Eric (Suzie) Flett, Ron Flett,  his sister-in-law Jade Garneau along with his nieces, nephews, Godchildren, many friends and his co-workers at CN Rail.  

Traditional wake for Mervin began on Friday, February 21, 2025 at 5:00 pm with prayers at 7:00 pm in the Ebb and Flow Community Complex, Ebb and Flow First Nation.  

Funeral Service was held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 1:00 pm in the Ebb and Flow Community Complex, Ebb and Flow First Nation.  Fr. Moise Adossou will officiate.  Interment took place in the Ebb and Flow Cemetery.