Obituary of Marc Lefebvre

Lefebvre, Marc E. Q.C. February 18, 1923 - July 28, 2009 Peacefully after a brief illness, at the Brantford General Hospital, in his 87th year. He is survived by his wife Marjorie Grace "Molly" Lefebvre and their children Helen Lefebvre and her husband Rick Wright, Leslie Berndl and her husband Walter, J. M. Arthur Lefebvre and his wife Dianne, Robert and his wife Ann, Kenneth (Ken), Daphne Jeffery and her husband John, Dina (Geraldine) Snarr and her husband Alan, Philip, Leonard and his wife Rosalie MacNeil, David and his wife Jennifer Ko. Predeceased by his son Patrick (1954). Also survived by sisters Evelyn Maich, Norma Grove of Ottawa and Geraldine McDonald and his brother and former law partner, Kenneth Patrick Lefebvre, Q.C, and his wife Mary, and many grandchildren and great-grand children. Predeceased by his brothers Gerald and Leonard, and Canadian in-laws Charles Grove, Peter Maich, A. G. Andy McDonald. Marc was the son of J. M. Alonzo Lefebvre and Caroline Pizzey. He was born in Brantford and attended St. Mary's School and the Brantford Collegiate Institute. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941 on graduation from high school and was trained on radar and as an aerial intercept operator for night fighter duty and achieved the rank of Sergeant. He served in England, with the RCAF before being seconded to the R.A.F. for active night-fighter duty in 153 Squadron in Northern Ireland. He then volunteered for service in India, and joined 176 Squadron in Bombay and Calcutta flying in Beaufighter's. "Lucky" Lefebvre, as he was known in the Air Force, returned to Canada at the end of hostilities, bringing with him arrangements for his war bride, Molly Fitt, to join him here. His war decorations included the Burma Star, the Defense Medal, and the Volunteer Service Medal. He attended University of Toronto's Saint Michael's College as a veteran where he studied history and geography, where he and his brother were instrumental in setting up the first student "co-op". After receiving his B.A. he was accepted at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he qualified for his call to the Bar with The Law Society of Upper Canada. He was later awarded his LL.B. degree when the law School was re-organized as a degree granting institution. He served as the editor of the Osgoode Hall Law School Law Review Obiter Dicta in his graduating year, and was called to the bar in 1951. He was appointed Queens Counsel in 1977. He practiced law for one year in Simcoe, Ontario, and then collaborated with his brother Kenneth Patrick Lefebvre in the new firm of Lefebvre And Lefebvre in Brantford in 1952. The practice flourished at George Street, then later on Darling Street, and continues on Chatham Street in Brantford. Marc was a tenacious champion and advocate for his clients and an advisor of great confidence, wisdom and practicality. He practiced family law, corporate law, litigation, real estate law, wills and estate practice, tax law, patent law and his personal specialty, Construction Lien law until his retirement in 1997 at age 74. He served for over 15 years as a deputy Small Claims Court Judge sitting at Brantford. Marc assisted in the founding and amalgamation of many Credit Unions in the Brantford area, and served for 30 years as president of the Saint Basil's (Brantford) Credit Union. He was active in the Telephone City Kiwanis Club and the Kiwanis Club of Brantford. Kiwanis was his major, but not only, outlet for giving back to his community. He worked on all Kiwanis Projects, but most memorably the Kiwanis Apps Mill Park, The Christmas Cookie Campaigns, The Kiwanis Follies and The Mohawk Park Grand opening and the running of the Kiwanis Queen. He secured one of the first ever Wintario grants given to Brantford or Brant County for the Kiwanis Apps Mill Park. He actively supported the Kiwanis Bingo's at the King George Road Bingo centre in their heyday. He served Kiwanis as its Lieutenant Governor for Division 5 in 1967 and as District Governor for Eastern Canada and the Caribbean in 1983, visiting every Kiwanis district in eastern Canada and 13 Caribbean countries. Marc served as a director and later president of the Kiwanis Foundation of Canada from 1998 to 1993. Marc chaired the St. Pius X building committee, and laid the original corner stone at St. Pius X Church, Brantford. He was active in the Air Force Club, the Branford Flying Club, where he earned his private pilot license and in the Brantford Red Cross (President) and the Brantford United Way. Marc was always an active member of his Roman Catholic parish, which were variously St. Mary's, St. Basil's and St. Pius X Churches. Marc was the president of the Brantford Majors Jr. "A" Hockey team, and was the president of the Brantford Highland Games Association. Marc served on the Brantford & District Credit Union Chapter. Marc chaired the St. Pius 33rd. Boy Scout Group Committee during its most active years. Marc served as financial officer of the Brantford School of Instrumental Music, and was a proud supporter of The Brantford Memorial Concert Band, the Jr. Band and the Sunday Serenade Concert Series. He served as President and administrator of a City of Brantford Seniors housing project on Robertson Avenue. His friends, former clients, acquaintances and colleagues and family will miss him, as will his many nieces and nephews, children and grandchildren. Marc had a great memory for language and languages. He could recite an appropriate verse of poetry when called for and he could greet his clients and contacts in English, French, Hungarian, Hindi, Urdu, Polish and German. Special thanks to Father Bill Foote, Dr. Brian Gudgeon, and BGH chaplain Bob Tees and nursing staff members Melissa, Jaimie, and Marlene. Friends will be received at the Beckett-Glaves Family Funeral Centre on Friday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Vigil Friday at 8:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Pius X Church, 9 Waverly St., on Saturday at 10 a.m. Interment St. Joseph's Cemetery. Donations to Sleeping Children around the World or a charity of your choice would be appreciated. A tree will be planted in memory of Marc in the Beckett-Glaves Memorial Forest.