Hilyard Joseph Gaudon

Hilliard Joseph Gaudon

June 13, 1934 – Nov 7, 2026

Beloved father and grandfather, Hilliard passed away peacefully at the age of 92. He was predeceased by his wife, Donna Elizabeth, in 2022, his sister Mary Nichols (nee Cormier), and two brothers, Earl, and Aloysius. He is survived by his daughter Lauren, three grandchildren Kathrynn Thiele, Damon Magee and Brennan Lockhart, and two great-grandsons.

Dad was born in Stephenville Newfoundland, a place that he always referred to as home. He started working at a young age, moving to Gander to work on the Ernest Harmon Air Force base while waiting to be accepted into the RCMP academy. He entered service in November of 1956, and was posted to Kingston, Ontario where he was proud to have participated in the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, before beginning his life out west in British Columbia. He enjoyed various postings in BC including Campbell River and Salt Spring Island and had the good fortune to be in the right place at the right time to meet his future wife at an event at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, where she was studying to become a nurse.

After adopting their daughter, Lauren in 1964, Hilliard chose to end his RCMP service in favour of staying in one place to raise his daughter. He spent some years at various driving jobs in Victoria before landing a position as a transit operator with BC Transit, “the best job in the world” as he was fond of saying. It allowed him to use his special people skills and wonderful gift of the gab. Hilliard was a devoted father and husband and spent his entire life finding ways to care for people, whether it was family, friends, neighbours, or simply a stranger in need. After he retired from BC Transit, Dad could always be found puttering about the yard or his garage, building, repairing or using his favourite phrase of ”I’ll get around to it”. He will be sadly missed yet so fondly remembered.

Hilliard specified no formal service was to be held, but a small remembrance gathering for immediate family and close friends will be communicated privately in the near future.