'A great human being': Friends remember former premier Ray Frenette
About 500 people gathered at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Shediac on Thursday afternoon for Ray Frenette's funeral.
Frenette, the 28th premier of New Brunswick, died Friday at the age of 83.
Former premier Frank McKenna said Frenette was like a brother.
"Ray Frenette was a great man," said McKenna, one of four former premiers at the funeral service.
"He was just a great human being and his friends and foes loved him equally."
"He was my lieutenant, he was my partner, if you like, he took a lot of bullets for me."
"Every premier needs somebody like that who does a lot of the heavy lifting, and he did it and he did it with grace and he did it with dignity and he did it with such respect that he was always able to get respect back."
Frenette was Liberal MLA for the riding of Moncton East for 25 years. He became premier after McKenna stepped down in 1997.
During his political career, he also served as minister of health and community services, government house leader, chairman of NB Power, minister of intergovernmental affairs, and deputy premier. He also served on numerous government committees.
Another former premier, Shawn Graham, described Frenette as a political giant who made an enormous contribution to New Brunswick.
"It's a special day for his family, but also for the people of New Brunswick to pay respect to a giant in New Brunswick politics," Graham said.
Camille Thériault, who became premier after Frenette, also remembered his former colleague fondly.
"You know we lost a great guy today — for me a friend, a mentor," Thériault said. "He was probably one of the best parliamentarians in the last 40 to 50 years in the province of New Brunswick. He was a fierce debater. He was a proud New Brunswicker."
Thériault said Frenette always had his heart in the right place. He said he loved his province, his family, and loved debating the major issues of the day in the legislature.
Former premier Bernard Lord said Frenette was a great friend of Moncton East and of New Brunswick.
"Even though we were from different political parties, we got along extremely well, and over the years we formed a certain friendship and a mutual respect," Lord said.
"He always had class. Even when he disagreed with you, he did it with class."
Frenette is survived by his wife, Armande Frenette, his daughter Debra Chouinard, and son, Dr. Rémi Frenette, five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, his brother and sister and several nieces and nephews.
