Oct 29, 1925 - Oct 9, 2017
Thomas (Tommy) Pierre Huppie
How do you define a great man... a man who loves, protects and provides for his family, selflessly and unconditionally... that is Tommy Huppie.
Thomas (Tommy) Pierre Huppie, age 91, passed away peacefully on October 9th, 2017, in his loving home, with son Brian at his side.
He was born in Lac La Biche, AB on October 29th, 1925 to Maxime and Gabrielle Huppie, who had six children: Irene, Doreen, Mildred, Gertie, Tommy and Peter. Sadly, Tommy was the last surviving of his parents and siblings.
Tommy married the love of his life, Annie Bourque, May 6, 1946, in their home town of Lac La Biche. To their complete joy, in April, 1947, their first born, Kenneth Maxime, came into the world. Later that year, Dad learned about a town called Kimberley, BC where the jobs were aplenty working for Cominco. He relocated his family to the beautiful mountain town for a more secure life, where he worked as an underground miner for the next 36 years.
Over the following eighteen years, Tommy and Annie's family grew and grew, with the births of their loving children: Michael Dennis, Brian Thomas Harry (Maya), Leanne Winnifred (Pete) and Terri Lynn Gabrielle (Dave). Much later they witnessed the birth of their 2 precious grandchildren Freddie and Zak, and along with their children, they loved them completely. Their guidance and wisdom has shaped their family's lives, which they will lovingly pass on from one generation to the next.
Tommy and Annie had full lives; they were married for 65 years with a treasure trove of wonderful memories, shared with family and friends. He enjoyed camping at Rock Lake, visiting relatives in Lac La Biche, sing songs strumming on his guitar, dancing with Annie and his girls, crib nights, Dynamiter hockey games, hunting with his sons, and attending family and friend celebrations near and far away.
Tommy loved living in the mountains and started to ski in his forties first with the Johnson family and later with his soon to become great friends, a.k.a. "The Snowbirds".
They were known for their infamous wine patch hidden in the trees where they would compare whose homemade wine was the best. They also started one of his favorite routines, religiously going to the Legion every Thursday at 2:00 for what became the traditional Miller Day. And even though his physical abilities were starting to fail him, he still managed to get to his Miller Day every week that was possible.
Our family would like to thank Dr. Lunge, Dr. Keyzer, Dr. Ikuta, Andrea Wallace, and his homecare gals.
Also, all his friends and family that dropped by over the years with his favourite dinners and goodies. But most importantly we would like to thank his son Brian for giving him his wish to live out his years in his beloved home with the utmost dignity.
A celebration of Tommy's life will be held at the Conference Ct, Kimberley Ski Hill, a most fitting place, at his favorite Miller Day time 2:00.
We ask you to join our family to celebrate this great man.
Please, in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Tommy can be made to Parkinson Society BC 600 - 890 West Pender St. Vancouver, BC V6J 1J9.