Obituary of Frederick Archibald Duplessis

Frederick Archibald Duplessis of Keswick, passed away peacefully at York Care Centre with Kathryn MacLean, his partner, angel and advocate, by his side on November 16, 2024, following a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

Fred (Freddie) A. Duplessis was born on May 27, 1942, at the family farm in Mouth of Keswick where he grew up, started his own farm, married and raised his family. Throughout his life he travelled throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and even Puerto Rico but there was nowhere he loved more than the hill and Freddie's Family Farm. The potatoes and rutabagas that he delivered weekly to Fredericton stores were always the highest quality he could produce and Freddie delivered his Mr. Spud seed potatoes to garden centres across NB and NS. He loved his cows and took great joy in watching them graze in the pasture behind the house and showing them at the Fredericton Exhibition, first as a young man with his shorthorns and later as a proud father when his children were actively showing their Limousin calves in 4-H. He also loved visiting the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto to promote NB potatoes and to see his own seed potatoes on display - winning the Canadian Horticultural Council International Award in 1984 with wife Ethel. The family farm was a recognized gathering place for both the Williams and Duplessis extended families and Freddie was the holder of the oral family histories.

Freddie loved the outdoors - farming was his career and hunting his passion. Early mornings during hunting season were sacred as he sought out his big buck and he even convinced Kathryn to don hunter's orange and join him at the 'upper place'. He applied for a moose licence countless times and when he was finally successful, it was clear to all that he truly had 'won the lottery'. He also loved people and he put the same energy into cultivating friendships that he put into cultivating his crops. It didn't matter where he was, he always seemed to run into someone he knew and if he did find himself in a room of strangers it wasn't long until he had made another friend. From a very young age, his children knew if they went anywhere with Dad there would always be ice-cream and a lot of eye-rolling as they waited for their father to finish 'talking'.

Freddie is survived by his three children, Patricia McAllister (Ed) of Ottawa, ON, Loralei Delanoy (Luc) of Rouleau, SK and Fred G. Duplessis (Diane) of Calgary, AB. He was the proud Papa of Anna, Ian and Adam McAllister, Samantha, Patrick and Katherine Delanoy and Sarah and Lauren Duplessis. He also leaves to mourn his partner, Kathryn MacLean, who stood by his side during the most challenging days of his illness; long-time friend, Clarence Sherman, who was a frequent visitor at York Care; nephews Kevin Jewett (Marion Dureau) and Joe Nyenhuis (Claudette); nieces Mary Lynn (Mike) Lalonde and Elizabeth (Greg) Dettweiler; and numerous cousins and extended family. He was a beloved friend and neighbour of Gary Stephens, Karen Stephens and Randy Stephens and “Uncle Freddie” to Megan (Knorr), Amanda (Maillet) and Kristen Stephens, Matthew and Sydney Stephens, Hannah, Rosie and Emmy Knorr, Mattea and Mileigh Stephens and Emily Jewett. He was predeceased by his wife Ethel (Jewett) Duplessis; infant daughter, Rebecca; parents, Fred J and Estelle (Williams) Duplisea; sister Pat Nyenhuis and parents-in-law, Wesley and Victoria (Gilman) Jewett.

A special thank you to the wonderful staff at York Care Centre, Tower 3 who not only took care of Freddie but truly cared about him.

A celebration of Freddie's life is being planned for early August 2025. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Keswick Baptist Church siding project (keswickbaptist@gmail.com) or the charity of your choice would be welcomed. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com