Charles Marcel Leveillee, 83, was lifted up to God April 02, 2018. Born in Manville Rhode Island March 9, 1935, Charlie is survived by his wife Martha Miller-Leveillee, his children Susan, Marcel, Marc and Paul, grandchildren Lucas, Nicholas and Casey, stepsons Shawn and Kevin Hullihen and step grandchildren Samantha, Haley and Mitchell.

He was predeceased by his parents Herve and Anita and his cousin Yvette Bolduc.  Yvette's children Lee and Rose maintained the close relationship that Charlie and Yvette shared throughout their lives.

Charlie worked in the early credit union movement in Rhode Island, later he established several small businesses in Delanson New York and, in retirement, maintained the HarTru tennis courts at Martin Downs in Palm City Florida.

Mass will be celebrated at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Palm City 10 AM, Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

In lieu of flowers, please support Treasure Coast Hospice, 1201 SE Indian Street, Stuart, FL 34997 or https://treasurehealth.org/ways-to-give/donate/ .. More information and photos at www.treasurecoastseawinds.com.

Depending on WHEN you knew Charlie you might describe him differently.

He was raised in a bi-lingual home with French being the language of the preceding generations. His whole community in Rhode Island had a French Canadian heritage.

Family genealogy on both paternal and maternal sides traces back to France and the common trade brought to Canada was keeping the grape vines.

Charlie's father, along with many others in the 1930s and '40s, worked long hours in the textile mills near Albion. Charlie tells stories about how his father had to keep the shuttles flying and the looms in good repair. He didn't have time for a bathroom break so kept a tin can tied around his waist.

His opportunities may have been limited by the lack of wealth but the family was rich in love. His parents scraped and saved to send him to a boarding school run by missionaries. He was sure he would become one himself. His favorite stories about the school brought him back to the dining room. They served oatmeal. He did not like oatmeal. He would scoop it off his plate and hold it in his hand under the table until he could fling it under the steps on the way out.

Evidently, during these teen years, Charlie attained his six-foot, two-inch height. The rapid growth or a family gene displayed itself in migraines and seizures.  The condition ended his journey to the mission field and also ended his attempt to join the armed services.

As a young man, Charlie took whatever job was available including selling magazine subscriptions door to door.

He took a job at a small credit union in Woonsocket and things really changed. In the course of the next several years he participated in lobbying for legislation at the state and federal level that set the course for credit unions.

With a growing family, Susan, Marcel, Marc and Paul, Charlie improved his income by buying multi-family houses and renting out some of the units while living in others.

In the 60s, Charlie moved the family to upstate New York where, in the true spirit of entrepreneurship, he launched several businesses including a gas station, a fuel oil business, a small grocery store and a wood mill. He grew tomatoes and corn, tried his hand at making maple syrup, raised hogs and chickens and became a fuel supplier for law enforcement vehicles.

Charlie and his first wife, Rita, divorced. He remarried and when an employment opportunity drew Judy to Florida, Charlie gave the businesses and the family homestead to the kids and began again.

He spent some time searching for the next job and ended up responding to an ad for tennis court management. For the next 17 years, Charlie was responsible for the HarTru courts at Martin Downs and, at times, also managed the pool and other services of the sports complex.

Judy died in 2003. Her son, Shawn, asked Charlie to carry on in the role of grandfather for Samantha, Haley and Mitchell. By this time he had three grandchildren of his own, Lucas, Nicholas and Casey. He has enjoyed observing their lives from afar with visits as often as possible.

Charlie met Marty in 2005. Marty was also widowed. They married in 2006, retired from their respective positions and commenced a happy life of tennis, golf, friends, gardening and travel.

Death is seldom easy and everyone hopes for something quick. God is in charge of our comings and our goings and both Marty and Charlie believe in stepping back to let God be God.

Charlie's passing was anticipated. Several years ago he had pulmonary emboli while playing golf. Doctors told him he was lucky to be alive. Blood clots settled in his lungs and others formed a train approaching from his right thigh. Blood was thinned in intensive care and Charlie was released to a life that included regular doses of blood thinners and a healthy caution around sharp objects. Unknown to the family until then, his blood is prone to forming clots through a genetic error.

Within the last year additional medical conditions made themselves known. The communications section of the brain began to fail, the lungs, damaged by those now old clots, experienced severely high pressure. And cancer showed up in both prostate and bladder. Straw and camel analogies come to mind. His diabetes and cholesterol and higher than normal blood pressure were now eclipsed by more serious and threatening conditions.

Pulmonary experts put it bluntly: there is no cure or treatment for the lungs.  We could gain a little time by letting surgeons open the chest to remove old scars. That would mean lots of pain and a winter of lake effect snow (Cleveland Clinic). We prayed and concluded that God could do what He thought best.

Then the communications section of the brain flooded taking away words, numbers, and time management. Charlie was sent home under Hospice care to die.

Someone forgot to consult with God. Many months later, after enjoying the company of family and friends and relying on the expertise of Hospice medical staff, God was finally ready for Charlie and Charlie was ready for God.

Given this time, we shed the less important aspects of life and focused on relationships. Our faith strengthened, family drew closer, friends became more dear. We appreciated the clarity. We cherished the sacraments, the freedom to be open and honest, the privilege to accept love.

If we may be permitted to share from our experience, it will be to invite others to love more deeply, rely on God's faithfulness and appreciate His amazing grace.

Charlie departed this life in peace and while we will miss him greatly, his spirit and the love he gave us lives on. We look forward to reunion when we, too, leave this world for eternal life with God.