Claude Joseph Bernard Carignan

                It is with a heavy heart that we, the family of Claude Carignan, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend to many, announce his peaceful passing on May 5th, 2024, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, with his daughter Claudette by his side.

                Born in Montreal, Quebec, on February 28th, 1941. He was the son of the late Elphege and May (Quesnel) Carignan, and he was one of their seven children. 

                Claude left Montreal at an early age to serve with the Navy as a Surface Weapons Specialist and later as a Military Police Officer. After fulfilling his comment to the Navy, Claude returned home to Laval, where he opened his own Plumbing Company, which he later relocated to Cape Breton and operated for forty years before retiring.  Retirement didn’t last long as Claude returned to his roots and served as a Commissioner at the Canadian Coast Guard College and Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Sydney before finally settling into retirement for good. 

                Throughout his younger years, Claude loved Hunting, Fishing, and Golfing. He remained active with the local chapters of the Knights of Columbus and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19, where he enjoyed many of their card nights. Playing cards became a “Competitive” pastime for Claude, who spent many nights around the kitchen table playing cards with his wife, Marilyn, and his in-laws, Hugh and Muriel MacDonald.  In their later years, their game of hearts soon included Claude's daughter Claudette and her husband Gary. In every case, these “Competitive” games always frustrated Claude as he was most often on the losing end, but that’s because he was always playing against a bunch of “Sand Baggers.”

                Claude’s true passion was his love for Hockey. Throughout his lifetime, you could always find him at the rink helping and coaching the local youth of all ages, spending many years as the coach for the Laval Loisirs and St. Norbert hockey clubs. His crowning coaching achievement came when he was the assistant coach for the Junior Montreal Canadians; this became the feather in his coaching cap and was the source of many great memories and stories that he would share.

                Left behind to mourn his loss are his daughter, Claudette Carignan; his grandchildren, Vanessa and Nicholas Hartmann; and his great-granddaughter, Adalynn Hartmann; his close friends Gary, Paul, and Rick, and his beloved cat Minou, all of whom he loved very much.  Besides his parents and in-laws, Claude was predeceased by his son-in-law Gary Hartmann and the love of his life, his wife Marilyn, who passed in August 2007, leaving a lasting hole in his heart.

                The family would like to thank the staff at the Cape Breton Regional and all the caregivers who have taken special care of him over the final years. Your attention and love shown to our father will forever be appreciated.

                As per Claude’s wishes, cremation has taken place; a Graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 1st, 2024, at Brookside Cemetery, Sydney Mines, at 2 PM, with the members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19 conducting service all who knew him are welcome to attend. Following the service a Luncheon and Celebration of life will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19, 16 Archibald Ave, North Sydney. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Claude’s name to the North Sydney Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19 or the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation.

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