Maurice Joseph Aimee Riopel

Born February 18, 1935     Passed March 21, 2025

On the afternoon of March 21st, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend, and patriarch of our blended family quietly passed with family by his side. Our hearts are heavy, and our tears are fresh but let’s talk about the man who loved his family of eleven children and his adoring wife Gustine. The original five children with his previously deceased wife Lucienne Pelletier, Riopel and daughter Angela who were tragically taken from them in a car accident.

Maurice was born in Legal, Alberta in 1935 to proud parents Charlotte and Leon. When he was born his dad was running the grain elevator in Legal. He often recounted memories of his parents feeding and sheltering the homeless who rode the train. Core values were instilled at a very young age. When he was old enough to begin school his dad moved the family to the Riopel farmstead where he began school at the Riopel School.

On the farm he learned many life lessons and what it meant to work. He learned how to yoke and work a team of horses to plow, seed, and harvest crops. While still in his early teens he moved to Morinville to attend the Convent St Jean. This never dissuaded him from helping on the farm, even though it was now three miles away. From the Convent he graduated and began at College St Jean (University of St Jean Campus). When he finished schooling, he returned to the farm to help his dad.

Like many Canadian boys he was a hockey player. Something he continued all the way to the Senior level; he was a goalie. He was very passionate about hockey and when playing ended for him, coaching began. But while still playing his good friend Liz convinced him to join the boys after a game for a party. It was there that he spotted an attractive young lady across the room and B lined it over to her to begin a conversation. The next day his good friend Liz began chiding him about it and teased him that he better stay away from his sister, he never knew that Lucienne was Liz’s sister. During their courtship her brothers would tease him as he came to pick her up in the grain truck, “here comes Cling Clang Bang Bang”. The auger on the grain truck made an awful racket.

On May 12 th of 1956 they were married. Lucienne and Maurice began their life together and started their family. In March of 1957 they welcomed their first baby girl while living in a rented basement suite. At this time, he was driving commercial trucks but quickly started a welding apprenticeship. They saved enough to buy a house in Edmonton and moved their family. In 1958 their second child arrived another girl. Followed by a third girl in 1960. Then a bouncing baby boy in 1962. It was at this time that they decided to move again. This time to Morinville so that the kids would be able to attend a French school. Two more beautiful girls rounded out the six in 1965 and 1967. He upgraded his welding ticket to B pressure and also became a steamfitter/ pipefitter. He started up his own welding rig and began working throughout the oil and gas industry, becoming one of the highest sought-after welders around.

When Maurice returned to Morinville he began coaching hockey and faced his old friend Liz (and now brother-in-law) on the opposing bench for Legal. I’m sure there are many tall tales that were never regaled about one or the other besting his old friend. As the kids grew camping became a favorite pastime and they bought a lake lot at Sandy Lake. Shortly after they sold the lake lot and decided to explore the many beautiful lakes throughout Alberta and BC with a definite love of the Rockies. Lots of campfires and BBQs filled this time. But again, they found a spot that they both loved and decided to give a lake lot another go. At Moose Lake with all hands-on deck, they built a cabin. Little ones adding some weight to the post hole auger while older siblings spun them around. There was always a fire going and hot dogs to be had. In the evening fishing stories were told and songs were sung. Dad loved to sing and play music at an early age. He loved the cello and that was very much appreciated as the Edmonton Symphony picked him up to play with them. He sang in the church choir with his mom on the piano and directing the choir. As the kids became old enough, they joined their dad in the choir.

Then tragedy befell the family and things changed forever. In July of 1977, a day after their eldest’s wedding, Lucienne and their youngest (Angela) were taken from them in a car accident while on their way to the cabin. For some time after the family struggled with the loss. Maurice did what he had to do to keep the lights on and the bellies full, but it was not easy! Having to travel out of town for work and being away from the family made things even more difficult. On one of his many trips down highway 28 to work in the Bonnyville area he stopped for coffee at the Sunset truck stop on the highway 28 near Redwater. His server, Mary, sensing the disparity in his voice and demeanor began talking to him. She suggested that he talk to a good friend of Her’s who had also suffered a loss (her husband George). She too had a houseful of kids and could probably relate, maybe even give him some advice. She gave him Gustine’s phone number and told him to give her a call.

In February of 1978 he found himself sitting in his truck in front of the house of Mary’s friend Gustine (Gussy) wrestling with his thoughts. She was a widow with six kids. Yeah, she definitely would know the road I am going down. While he sat there oblivious to the 2, 3, 4 heads that appeared in the picture window Gussy began to wonder if he would just drive off. Instead, he put the truck in park and came to the door. My siblings and I were either too young or not bright enough to see what had transpired over the course of coffee but there was certainly something in the air! Before he left, they had made a date to go to the Red Barn for dinner and dancing, being mom’s plus one for her sister’s anniversary party.

By spring they had grown very fond of each other and a litmus test was to be applied to see if the kids could get along. We had come to know Maurice somewhat but hadn’t had any interaction with his kids. I guess either it worked out better than expected or they just decided that the kids would not get in their way. As the weeks went by and the families grew closer, they decided to make it official. In September of that same year, they became Gussy and Maurice Riopel. This uniting of the families brought structure and order to the Magas family. For the Riopel kids it helped them to cope and heal.

Dad encouraged all kids, even those out of the house at school or starting their own families to participate in family events. Might even have been some gentle persuasion applied. But he was on a mission to ensure that our family became one!

With the “I dos” out of the way the next thing that had to be dealt with was the house. Neither house was big enough for all of us and just like the Riopel cabin build it was all hands-on deck for the Redwater house expansion project. Dad was a construction Superintendent so he knew how to run a crew! And setup a project. The house had to be big enough for the seven kids still at home and able to fit the rest when they come home for Christmas etc. So, over the next year or so dad taught us how to build. Cutting concrete, hanging drywall, and even helping out with the finishing. He made sure we were paying attention and picking up what he was laying down!

With the housing project behind us time marched on and the congestion in the house continued to abate as graduation after graduation seemed to role by. Graduations, weddings, more graduations. Seriously I don’t know how they kept up but dad was always genuinely proud and happy for us. That house saw more parties than any other I know of. Or maybe the smiling was because he was getting closer to finally being able to do something for just him and mom. Yup! Come to think of it I think that is what it was.

Family camping trips were a huge part of our life. Dad loved to camp and being outdoors whether it was at the Moose Lake cabin, camping at numerous lakes around the province, or spending weekends at the lake lot in Lac La Biche. Tall tales around the campfire, mostly about the one that got away, not just from dad but all of us who fished. He always had a bottle of sherry when camping and would walk around in the morning offering up “mouth wash” to anyone who wanted it (a tradition started by Grandpa Leon). I think it was his way (and grandpa’s) of dealing with your morning breath as he tended to engage with you more if you had some (LOL). But he never missed an opportunity to give his kids a leg up. He was always there to help in whatever way he could. If a new project came up and you weren’t working, he made sure you had a job working for him. If you were moving and needed help, he was there! If you needed something fixed, he would guide you or show up to get it done! A real rock you could lean on for guidance or help.

Empty nesters at last!

Over the years with a long string of successful projects he became one of very few individuals who could easily execute any project. No matter the industry, size, or complexity he had equipped himself with the tools and surrounded himself with the right resources to handle anything. From petrochemical to mining to radar installations no project was too big or too complex. At the tender age of 78 (LOL) he was the head of all QC for the Shell Scotford expansion project. Again, because of who he was and the weight his name carried in the industry he was able to attract some of the best people in the field. But even at that age he was still crawling inside vessels to ensure they were built to spec. After this last job he decided to retire.

When the house was devoid of kids, mom travelled with dad for work and they enjoyed many adventures from coast to coast, north and south. They would work during the day, then spend their evenings and weekends enjoying whatever the location had to offer. But by far they enjoyed the wilderness the most, seeing beauty in everything they gazed upon. It was also their time to enjoy the company of each other, which they cherished immensely. Shortly before retiring he joined the Shriners, perhaps in preparation for all the time he would have on his hands. They spent years travelling throughout North America. Participating in parades, fundraising, and meeting some really fantastic people. Here at home, they were very active with the circus and with the help of family members (who were also Shriners) they hosted the famous perogy dinner at the Shrine Hall.

They started to spend their winters in the states as they had made many new friends, and the weather was much nicer in Arizona in January. For the first few years they travelled around and stayed in several different places including Chloride, Apache Junction, and Golden Valley. Wanting to establish more of a home base they later bought a lot in Kingman and moved a modular home to the site. Dad still talked about the dedication of the team that did the setup. Arriving at Christmas and working through to completion. While they were there, he enjoyed gardening and doting over his prize roses. They liked to stay a little later into the spring to see the desert start to bloom and of course to see dad’s roses come into full bloom. When wintering down south became too much they decided to tough out our Alberta winters again. Coming back to Alberta in the spring they maintained a couple different “home” bases including parking their fifth wheel at Monique and Yvon’s acreage, setting up camp at Buzzard’s Gulch, and finally settling at Pigeon Lake Estates. In true fashion they hosted many get togethers at their place with family, friends, and neighbours. They still enjoyed sight seeing and spent many hours just driving the countryside.

A few years ago, mom was stricken with Alzheimer’s and was placed in long term care at the Wetaskiwin Regional Hospital. He remained extremely devoted to his soulmate and would daily drive into Wetaskiwin to not only see her but to take her out on day trips and get her away from that environment. Taking her for lunch, site seeing tours, or visiting with family. The last couple years he had several health issues that were complicated by his COPD but as soon as he regained his strength, he was right back to mom ensuring her comfort and well being. A devoted spouse with unwavering love for his wife.

So today we say goodbye to the man who brought so many different things to so many different people and had a positive impact on so many. He wasn’t perfect! None of us are! But he was our “perfect” husband, dad, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend! We love you dad and we’ll miss you immensely!

Maurice was pre-deceased by:

Parents: Leon and Charlotte Riopel

Wife: Lucienne Pelletier Riopel

Daughter: Angela Riopel

Daughter in law: Joyce Dinwoodie Magas (Darryl)

Grand Daughter: Genevieve Auger

Brothers: Claude, Denis, and Richard Riopel

Sisters: Georgette Riopel and Pricilla Riopel Schafers

*Numerous in laws from both families

And survived by:

Wife: Gustine O’Neill Magas Riopel

Daughters: Monique Dostie (Yvon), Lorraine Auger (Claude), Denise Riopel (Boman) (Peter), Brenda Magas Schmidt (Blair),

Yvette Magas (Douglas), Connie Magas Preteau (Luc)

Sons: Douglas Magas (Yvette), Darryl Magas , Albert Riopel (Earla), Blair Magas (Teresita), Curtis Magas

30 Grandchildren (56 with partners)

38 Great Grandchildren

** Numerous nieces, nephews, their families, and an extreme wealth of friends!

A celebration of Maurice’s life will be held
Saturday, April 19th
11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Ardrossan Recreational Facility
80 First Avenue