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TORONTO - Fr. Norbert Gignac, PP, known to many Catholic Register readers as a faithful friend of long-time former Register columnist Msgr. Tom Raby, passed away at the Houses of Providence in Toronto on Aug. 31. He was 87.

Fr. Gignac was born in Penetanguishene, Ont., in 1920, one of 16 siblings. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1945. During Fr. Gignac’s 62 years of service to the archdiocese of Toronto, he served as associate pastor at Corpus Christi, Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Francis of Assisi parishes in Toronto.

As pastor he served at St. Patrick’s in Markham and St. Mary’s in Victoria Harbour and was founding pastor of Oshawa parishes St. Mary of the People and St. Joseph the Worker.

Fr. Gignac is survived by his sister, Sr. Mary Zelie (Helen), CSJ.

Raby’s column, The Little World of Fr. Raby, told of many of the exploits of Raby and his good friends Fr. Gignac, and Toronto Auxiliary Bishop Robert Clune. The tales of the three, often as golfing and travelling companions, frequently appeared in Raby’s weekly column.

Fr. Gignac’s funeral was held Sept. 4 at St. Joseph the Worker, and was followed by his burial at Resurrection Cemetery in Whitby.

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