Our Heavenly Father called Frank home on December 9th 2017, just short of his 90th year. Frank was born in 1928, in the in Lynn, Massachusetts. Frank’s father, Ferdinand, returned his family to Canada in 1929 at the start of the Great Depression. Frank was the youngest of the 11 children of Ferdinand and Nathalie Dupuis. His father, a carpenter, built a small 2 story building with what would become a grocery store on the lower floor in Moncton, New Brunswick. His Father, older brothers, and sisters ran the small shop and Frank, by then a grade schooler, made deliveries and helped in the garden his family kept. His father and 11 children lived in the tiny home upstairs. Frank’s father often had to manage with very little but the Lord always provided. A devout Catholic, Ferdinand passed his faith on to his children and the Dupuis’ often attended Mass nearly every day of the week, even in the harshest Canadian winters. Frank’s blessed mother passed soon after his birth and one of her wishes was to have a priest in the family. Frank attended St. Joseph’s Seminary but after much prayer and reflection, he knew he did not have the calling to continue toward priesthood. He truly felt his future was elsewhere.
After a short period playing semi-professional hockey at 17, he left for Massachusetts to join the US Navy. He’d been nearly born in ice skates and never travelled on a ship, Frank soon found the small Destroyer Escort he was deployed on and its constant motion was no life for him. After completing his 2 year commitment in the Navy and a short break after, Frank was still hungry for service. After WWII, when a new division of the military was being formed called the United States Air Force, which had no ships, he’d found his calling for the next 20 years. His Air Force service brought many new adventures. During a 3 year assignment in Berlin, Frank, fluent in French and Latin, was honored to serve on the team of translators for President John F. Kennedy when the President gave his famous speech at the Berlin Wall.
One of Frank’s most magical years was 1956 when he met the love of his life Janice Jordan. When meeting completely by chance in a quiet NCO club at Mitchel Air Force Base in NY, Frank danced his first dance with Janice and was blessed with the gift of the perfect partner for the next 58 years. They married in 1959, they had three sons. Frank had an endless joy for life with his boys and his angel Jan. He never missed an opportunity to make them laugh and never limited that happiness. He brought a smile and special, selfless joy to everyone he met.
After his years of military service, he would spend the next 18 years working for the Commonwealth of Virginia. At the same time Frank and Jan managed to build a beautiful home in Gloucester, VA on the Piankatank River, a small tributary off of the Chesapeake Bay. Jan at his side and his father’s carpentry skills in his heart, they built and learned and laughed and lived. Though little did Frank know that his true calling was fatherhood and the amazing, simple pleasures he was able to bring to his family’s life. His giving heart spawned memories so treasured, that his 3 boys all would live their lives striving to be half the father he was. Frank’s calm strength, loving smile, and faith in God, the power of his presence and his love of life and laugher with his family alongside his angel Jan, have proven everlasting in the hearts of his family and everyone he met.
Frank is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Janice and his sister Marcia. Three sons Christopher, Steven and Michael; grandchildren Michelle, Michael, Chase, Paris, Lauren, Noah, and Chole and great-grandchildren Devin, Gabrielle, Mikalah, and Gavin.
Our family wanted to send a special thanks to all the care givers who helped our father in these last difficult months. Santa Rosa Medical Center and Arcadia facilities were so amazing and the Emerald Coast Hospice team will all always be in our family’s prayers, you touched our family’s life and our father and the comfort your care brought was truly a blessing from God.
Trahan Family Funeral Home of Milton has been entrusted with arrangements.
A funeral mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 6451 Park Ave., Milton. The family will receive friends at a reception beginning at 12 noon in the Education Building behind main church.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Emerald Coast Hospice, 5536 Stewart Street, Milton, FL 32570.