DURANT, Francis Germaine, 82 of the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home, Antigonish and formerly of Pomquet, N.S. passed away Friday January 27th, 2012 at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish, N.S.

Born in Pomquet, November 25, 1929, he was the son of the late Louis and Jane (Melanson) Durant.

Francis spent his early years in Pomquet, before marrying and moving to Halifax, N.S. in the late 1950’s. He worked in the construction industry installing re-enforcement steel in concrete on many projects both in Halifax and later years in Calgary, AB.

Health issues and retirement brought him back to Pomquet in the early 1980’s where he resided in the family home on Pomquet Lake Road until moving into the R.K.MacDonald Nursing Home in 2007.

Francis enjoyed his time at the R.K.MacDonald Nursing Home participating in social events, visits from friends and family and even discovering an ability and talent for drawing and water-color painting for which he was awarded a number of acclamations and prizes.

Francis is survived by his former wife, Lillian (Gallant) formerly of St. Joseph’s N.S., sons Arthur (Therese) Durant of Calgary, AB, John (Edie) Durant of Shad Bay, N.S. and Tom Durant (Rhonda) of Saskatoon, SASK., and his grand-children Jonathan & Alexander Durant, and Christopher & Andrew Durant. Francis is also survived by his sister, Sister Maria Goretti (Edith) of the Netherlands.




Francis was predeceased by his parents, Louis & Jane Durant, his brother Bernard, and his sister Florence (Aloysius) Mattie.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 3, 2012 in C. L. Funeral Home, 135 College Street, Antigonish from 2 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm. Funeral mass will be held at 10:30am on Saturday February 4, 2012 at Ste. Croix Catholic Church, Pomquet with Father Peter J. Baccardax officiating. Internment in the parish cemetery will occur at a later date.

The family would like to thank Dr. Chaisson and the staff and nurses at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital for their care during Francis’ time there. We would also like to thank the Nurses and Staff at the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home for all the care and comfort they provided for Francis during his years at the home. He truly felt he was at home there. A special thanks to cousin Mary Anne Melanson, Frank Gosbee and the good people of the parish community of Pomquet for their help in watching over Francis in our absence.