Richard Bessette was born on May 27th, 1947. Sadly on May 19th, 2026 husband of Theresa Bessette (deceased) and father of Natalie Bessette and Alicia (Bessette) Bertrand passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 78 in Chelmsford, Ontario.
Richard grew up in Astorville with 10 brothers and 1 sister. His mother Béatrice and father Francis raised a fun loving and hardworking family. He grew up with many adventures alongside his siblings.
Richard met Theresa in his late 20s and got married on July 6th, 1974. They had 2 daughters, Natalie in 1975 and Alicia in 1977. They started their lives together in Hanmer, moved to Timmins and eventually made their way to Chelmsford. Throughout their time together, Richard was a hardworking self-employed flooring installer. He loved being at camp, enjoyed the outdoors hunting and fishing with his brothers and friends. He was a lover of all sports, a beloved fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Blue Jays.
Our dad, also known as “Bazoo” taught us the importance of laughing and having a good time while creating memories with loved ones. He enjoyed cooking and taking his time enjoying his hot meals; always the last one at the table. Pépère's famous beans will definitely be missed. Some of our favorite memories are spending the day on the pontoon boat and ending our day sitting by the campfire sharing stories.
Richard is survived by his two daughters, Natalie and Alicia, his son-in-law Casey and grandchildren, Sera, Arianne & Brayden. He will be missed by his brothers, in-laws as well as many nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.