Obituary

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Marcel Edmond Chenier Poirier (“Gars”, “Ti-Gars”) in his sleep on Monday, August 3, 2026, at his home in Ottawa, Ontario. He was 43 years young. His passing was caused by a heart attack.

Mars was the deeply devoted husband of Melody, whom he had loved since she was 17 years old, and the proud, loving father of Amélie, Adèle, and Sébastien.

He was predeceased by his mother, Monique, and his father, Marcel Sr. He is survived and dearly missed by his wife and children; his sister, Anne; his nephews, Nathaniel, Nikolas, and Jaxson; as well as his eldest daughter's partner, Preston.

A Life of Love, Sports, and Devotion

Growing up, Gars lived for hockey. In the winter, he was on the ice as soon as breakfast was over, sometimes skipping lunch entirely, and stayed out until dinner time. Summers were spent the exact same way, playing ball hockey with close friends including Christian (“CP”), William (“Pat”), Joey, among many others.

As a father, Gars’ favorite place to be when he wasn't working hard to provide for his family was playing Seb's favorite sports, including hockey and baseball, going fishing, or watching hockey, especially during the playoffs. His loyal support for the Boston Bruins was a legendary ongoing battle in a home full of Ottawa Senators fans.

Those who knew Gars before he started his family know the incredible work he put into turning his life around. In the end, Gars held the titles that mattered most: a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, and loyal friend. He put his family’s needs above his own every single day, even on his last weekend, stepping up without hesitation to drive Adèle through a heavy storm to her appointment.

Comfort and Gratitude

Melody and the family take immense comfort in knowing Gars passed away peacefully in his sleep, and they are deeply grateful for the small blessings aligned before his passing: a family dinner with Amélie and Preston, celebrating his nephew Jax's birthday with Anne and her boys, and a final lunch and beer with his good friend Jim. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to his employer, Harding, for their support during this difficult time.

Though the road ahead is hard, Melody and the kids find strength in leaning on the overwhelming support of family and friends. They take solace in knowing Gars is in heaven preparing their eternal home.

Celebration of Life

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at:

Paroisse Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes

435 Montreal Road

Ottawa, Ontario K1K 0V2

Following the celebration, those who wish to join the family are warmly invited to a brunch in remembrance and celebration of their loved one. The location of the brunch will be shared at a later time.

Ways to Support the Family

A GoFundMe page, organized by Gars’ childhood friend, Chris, has been created to support the family during this difficult time. If you would like to contribute, you can find the GoFundMe page here:

GoFundMe – Help Support Marcel’s Family After His Sudden Passing

If you prefer, you can also support the family by purchasing items directly from their Amazon Wish Lists:

General daily essentials, comfort items & activities to keep the children busy:

Amazon Wish List

Grief resources and recommended books/items:

Amazon Wish List – Grief Resources

The family would like to express their deepest and most heartfelt thanks to everyone who has reached out with condolences, prayers, messages of love, and words of encouragement. Your kindness, support, and generosity mean more than words can express during this incredibly difficult time.

Please continue to share your favorite memories of Gars to help keep his spirit alive for his family and loved ones.