Trois-Rivières, QC — Réjean Descheneaux, a harness racing fan and construction builder from Sorel, Québec, died on May 19 at the age of 79.

Although his life revolved around the company, Descheneaux still devoted a lot of time to harness racing.

“He went to the races between three and five times a week at one point,” recounted his son Sylvain. “He was going to see them practice too. It was his true passion. He gave me that passion. He loved to have fun, he loved the songs to sing and the folklore.”

Réjean Descheneaux, who co-founded Construction Sorel in 1982 with Réjean and Gaston Bibeau, was passionate about life and was very present for his family, says his son.

“Despite a job that takes time, he was always there for us. My father had the facility to disconnect work,” said Sylvain Descheneaux.

The latter, even though he became sole owner in 2007, always refused to give himself the title of president of Construction Sorel. He was the vice-president and his father the president.

“For me, it’s just a title. My father still came to the office every day. He was the one who made the deposits at the bank. Construction Sorel, it was his life,” Descheneaux added.

In the 1960s, he had industrial expertise in concrete foundation work, especially in heavy industrial work. This is the expertise he brought to the foundation of Construction Sorel in 1982.

The family will welcome friends at JP Ponton and S. Jacques & Fils, 105 Principale Yamaska on Saturday, (June 1). Hospitality hours are 7 to 9 p.m. A religious celebration will be held on Sunday (June 2) at 3 p.m. at St-Michel d’Yamaska Church and the burial will take place at the cemetery of St-Michel d’Yamaska at a later date.

Donations for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Alzheimer Society would be appreciated.