Oliver Edwin "Brother Paul" Voisin

1923 - 2018  (95 years)

• Name	Oliver Edwin "Brother Paul" Voisin
  Born	2 Apr 1923
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	life story, religion, military
  Military	WW2
  		Oliver Edwin Voisin
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-206858
  Died	27 Jul 2018	Victoria, British Columbia
  Person ID	I206858	Generations
  Last Modified	6 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Robert Voisin,   b. 7 Mar 1889, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1976  (Age 86 years)
  Mother	Louisa Luntz,   b. 26 Oct 1888, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1968  (Age 79 years)
  Married	18 May 1908	St. Clements, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Family ID	F40056	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Oliver Edwin Voisin with his friend Claire Wells

  
  

• Notes

  VOISIN, Oliver Edwin (Bro. Paul) OFM 1923 - 2018 Oliver Edwin Voisin (Bro. Paul) OFM, died peacefully the evening of July 27, 2018 in the care of his nurses at The Lodge at Broadmead, Victoria, BC. He is survived by his two sisters, Rita Robinson, and Mary Forwell living in Ontario. As a Franciscan brother, he devoted himself to the care of the homeless and marginalized in our community. He spent over 35 years serving at the Soup Kitchen, and participated at morning Mass, both at St. Andrews Cathedral. As a WWII veteran he was awarded the "Legion of Honour" by the French Government for his role as a paratrooper. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Andrews Cathedral on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at 12 Noon, Rev. Bob Mokry, OFM, celebrant. Flowers declined, donations to the Soup Kitchen would be appreciated. Oliver Voisin Obituary - Victoria, BC | The Times Colonist. (2019). Legacy.com. Retrieved 22 September 2019, from https://www.legacy.com/amp/obituaries/timescolonist/189802279 ______________________________ "He [Oliver Edwin Voisin - Brother Paul] was my wife's, and my, best friend for a decade. He was well-known in Victoria, BC as the man who jogged the streets, dressed in his Franciscan Monk garb .. a huge flowing robe with his head covered by its hood. (I think he frightened the wits out of more than just a few folks, him running by them at night.) Oliver (Brother Paul) was a RC religion tranditionalist, who slept on the Friary bare floor and used a phone book as his pillow. He was faith disciplined but loved to laugh heartily. He loved people and their stories. And everybody who knew him, loved him. His favourite saying was: "It's all about the love." He felt it his role's sole mission was: "to get people thinking about God." BP's one weakness was for ice cream, .. he'd sneak alone into the Friary kitchen in the very early hours of the day and sneak a few spoonfuls. Well, maybe more than just a few. We loved this man. And always will. We were honored to be his friends. STORY: On one occasion, when I travelled east for business, I made a point of renting a car and going to St. Clemens and north to the Boomer Line concession road, where the Voisin family lived and and where Oliver (Brother Paul) was born. I visited the farm and I spoke at length with the Mennonite family who live there currently. I also spent some time with his parents, at their resting place in the St. Clements cemetery. Brother Paul had not been back to Ontario since the mid-seventies, so I was thrilled and excited to return home to Victoria and tell him of my memorable visits. He listened carefully. And when I had finished, he turned and quietly said to me: "Darrell, sentimentality is a wonderful thing. But we should never act upon it." Voila. Oliver found his religion, following events of WW2 when they, as paratroopers, landed near Caen, France hours before the D-Day landing. They landed scattered and somehow, accomplished their crucial mission to distract and hold the Nazis at bay and from reinforcing Normandy. A young Nazi lad shot Bro Paul at point blank range. But somehow, the bullet missed him and killed the paratrooper behind him. That was the day he chose God and decided to serve Him. (He said he was too stupid to be accepted into the Trappist faith [ha]). So after the war he became a Franciscan, his initial years spent in Trail, BC before transferring to Victoria, where the climate was better for his MS health issues. On the day of his funeral, I drove to Wroxeter [near Wingham] and met his sister, Rita. We had a lovely visit and we now remain in touch on a frequent basis. I have also visited with his sister Mary and met his nieces, Marilyn and Charlene. Wonderful folks. Do note, that his family had not seen Oliver since the mid-seventies. So their stories to me were of his youthful times, and in turn, my stories to them were about this great person and friend, during the later years of his wonderful life. Enthrallingly ethereal perspectives, shared. So, there you have it. Our warmest regards, darrell & claire From: DARRELL WELLS email 2019

  
  

• Sources

  [S3108] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 019385-08. Robert Voisin, 20, occ. Farmer, b. Wellesley Twp, res. Wellesley Twp, son of Peter Voisin and Margaret Meyer married Louise Lunz, 19, b. Wellesley Twp, res. Wellesley Twp, daughter of Andrew and Maria, Witn: Alex Voisin of St. Clements, 18 May 1908 in St. Clements.

  
  

• Event Map

  Died - 27 Jul 2018 - Victoria, British Columbia  = Link to Google Earth