Cornwall and Area is mourning the loss of Msgr. Rudy Villeneuve

Today, Cornwall and area is mourning the loss of a good friend, a respected priest, educator and author. Monsignor Rudy Villeneuve passed away late this afternoon at the Cornwall Hospice. He was 87. Monsignor Villeneuve was born on Christmas Day 1923, and ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1947.

PHOTO CREDIT - David Murphy, OurHometown.ca

Cornwall - Jun. 17, 2011 - Today, Cornwall and area is mourning the loss of a good friend, a respected priest, educator and author. Monsignor Rudy Villeneuve passed away late this afternoon at the Cornwall Hospice. He was 87.

Monsignor Rudy Villeneuve was born on Christmas Day 1923, and ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1947 to serve as a priest in the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall.

The distinguished list of Msgr. Villeneuve’s honours includes being named Cornwall’s first Citizen of the Year in 1972 and the recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. The Msgr. Villeneuve Foundation provides $500 bursaries to a dozen local students on an annual basis.

A native of Maxville, Villeneuve has two Ph.D. (Theology and Sociology) as well an M.A (Theology) and M.S.W (Social Work). At a recent tribute dinner, Msgr. Rudy thanked the speakers and had to choke back tears as he wrapped up his speech borrowing a part of the famous Lou Gehrig speech “…today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.’

Funeral arrangements have not been announced as of posting time.