VACHAON , Roland Vachon

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Roland Vachon on June 21, 2025, at the age of 63, in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. Born in Fort Coulonge, Quebec, Roland was a lifelong resident of Sturgeon Falls, where he was known for his warm smile, endless laughter, and gentle spirit.
Roland lived with epilepsy from the age of two, and the effects of his early treatment left him with special needs throughout his life. Despite the challenges he faced, Roland’s kind soul and infectious laughter brought joy to those around him. He loved doing puzzles—especially ones with more than 1,000 pieces—listening to French country music, and playing games on his IPad. But his greatest joy was simply being surrounded by people.

Roland was a deeply loving husband, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. His sense of humor, his laughter, and his tender heart will be missed by all who had the privilege to know him.

He is survived by his devoted wife Nicole St-Martin, his loving sister Diane Courchesne (André Courchesne), and his brother Robert “Bob” Vachon (Jeannette Joly). He will be fondly remembered by his niece Julie McLeod (Sëan Cadieux) and their children Shyanne (12) and Dorion (17), and by his nephew Jessy-Lee Vachon. He also leaves behind his beloved uncle, Fernand Graveline (Madeleine Lalonde) his 2 aunts Lise Graveline (Guy de Chevigny) of Sturgeon Falls and Irène Vachon of Rouyn-Noranda.

With special thanks to these wonderful people from Au Château who cared for Roland:
Dr. Guy Labelle, Jenna Bluteau, Serge Girard, Renée Anne Lalonde, Gail Restoule-Gagnon, Frank Jr. Desbois, Miranda Turcotte, Tammy Howe-Beaver, Jean-Marc Guenette, Gregory Jonas, Lissa Quesnel, Éric Trottier, Claude Strasbourg, Liane Dupuis, Krista Hammill, Karie-Anne Labelle, Anne Marie Fenske-Anger, Carmen Jutras, Sara Ann Mailloux, Carole Sarazin, Courtney Seymour, Chantal Cromwell, Hélène Larabie, Cathy Goulard, Nicole Lacourciere and Stephanie Corbett.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, August 18, 2025. The service will take place at Sacré-Coeur Church, Sturgeon Falls at 1:00 pm, with doors opening at 12:00 noon. Burial to follow at St-Marie Cemetery for family, close friends, and friends from Au Château to gather and continue celebrating his life.
A few years ago, Roland confided to his sister Diane that he had always dreamed of being “normal”—of getting his driver’s license, owning a nice car like his siblings, and living life with the freedom he saw in others. Just one month before his passing, Diane lovingly kept reminding him that a red sports car would be waiting for him in Heaven.
We believe he’s already taken it for a joyride.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Roland Vachon, on June 21, 2025, at the age of 63, in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. Born in Fort Coulonge, Quebec, Roland was a lifelong resident of Sturgeon Falls, where he was known for his warm smile, infectious laugh, and gentle presence.
Roland had lived with epilepsy since the age of two. The treatments he received during his early childhood left lasting effects, making him a person with special needs throughout his life. Despite the hardships, his kind soul and contagious laughter brought joy to everyone around him. He enjoyed doing puzzles—especially those with more than 1,000 pieces—listening to French country music, and playing on his iPad. But his greatest joy was being around people.
He loved gatherings and deeply cherished the time spent with his precious family. He simply delighted in being in the thick of things, listening to the conversations, feeling the energy, and the bursts of laughter. His good humor, big smile, and infectious laughter will forever be etched in our hearts.
Roland was a deeply loving husband, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend. His sense of humor, laughter, and great sensitivity will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
He is predeceased by his parents, Frida (Graveline) Vachon (1984) and Claude Vachon (1985).
He is survived by his devoted wife Nicole St-Martin, his loving sister Diane Courchesne (André Courchesne), and his brother Robert “Bob” Vachon (Jeannette Joly). He will be fondly remembered by his niece Julie McLeod (Sëan Cadieux) and their children, Shyanne (12) and Dorion (17), as well as his nephew Jessy-Lee Vachon. He also leaves behind his beloved uncle Fernand Graveline (Madeleine Lalonde), and his aunts Lise Graveline (Guy de Chevigny) and Irène Vachon of Rouyn-Noranda.
For the past 10 years, Roland lived at the Au Château long-term care center, where he received care and support. In April 2022, he suffered a severe stroke that paralyzed him on one side, and over time, this paralysis became total. While not all of his time at the Château was easy, the family wishes to express their deep gratitude to the many compassionate caregivers who showed Roland kindness and respect during this difficult time. Although not all of their names are known, their dedication has not gone unnoticed.
A special thank you to the wonderful people at Au Château who cared for Roland:
Dr. Guy Labelle, Jenna Bluteau, Serge Girard, Renée Anne Lalonde, Gail Restoule-Gagnon, Frank Jr. Desbois, Miranda Turcotte, Tammy Howe-Beaver, Jean-Marc Guenette, Gregory Jonas, Lissa Quesnel, Éric Trottier, Claude Strasbourg, Liane Dupuis, Krista Hammill, Karie-Anne Labelle, Anne Marie Fenske-Anger, Carmen Jutras, Sara Ann Mailloux, Carole Sarazin, Courtney Seymour, Chantal Cromwell, Hélène Larabie, Cathy Goulard, Nicole Lacourciere, and Stephanie Corbett.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, August 18, 2025. The service will be held at Sacred Heart Church, Sturgeon Falls at 1:00 p.m., with doors opening at 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery so that family, close friends, and friends of Au Château may gather and continue to celebrate his life.
A few years ago, Roland confided in his sister Diane that he had always dreamed of being “normal”—of having a driver’s license, owning a nice car like his siblings, and living with the freedom he saw in others. A month before his departure, Diane fondly reminded him that a red sports car was waiting for him in heaven.
We believe he has already taken the wheel for a ride.