B.J. Beaulieu was a remarkable person, so please excuse the break from a traditional obituary. Born in Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada on January 23, 1953, to Lucien and Simone Beaulieu, B.J. later suffered a traumatic brain injury at 12-years-old that simultaneously stopped and reset his life. From then on, he considered his real birthday the day he woke up, which was September 4, 1965.
When he awoke, he'd lost the use of his "sticks" (legs), couldn't recognize the faces of his parents or sister, did not associate with the gender of his birth, and never easily acknowledged aging past 12. Years later, despite being diagnosed with schizophrenia and forced to live in mental health institutions, he completed a B.A. in English from Layola University and committed his life to the Catholic Church. Eventually, B. J. was able to live independently and remained proudly so until the end of his life.
He endured a rare cancer, more medical maladies than I care to list, and years of mislabeling with a casual bravery that came from his unshakeable faith in God. B.J. considered himself an "unofficial" monk and was active at Our Lady of Hope (formerly St. Anne's) Catholic Church. Many recognized his smiling face, color-coordinated ball cap and shoes, in his wheelchair at the front of the Church at Saturday's 5:30pm mass and would walk the length of the aisle to greet him.
I've known B.J. for 15 years, since I was 19, and he has been part of my family ever since. His only surviving relative was a sister in Canada he rarely saw, and my mother Nancy and I were one of many in a constellation of love surrounding him. As I sat there at his hospital bedside, everyone who visited had a different facet of him to share, and all echoed the same themes: B.J. was generous (sometimes to a fault), loving, resilient, and gracious beyond measure.
It's a futile attempt to name the bereaved for someone beloved by many. His memory lives on in those who knew him, reminding us to strive toward our best selves.
He passed peacefully at noon on November 6th with myself and his long-time caregiver, Christine Guillen, at his bedside.
B.J lived a long, good life and died with dignity thanks to his medical teams at Loma Linda University Medical Center and St. Bernadine Medical Center's critical care and palliative support teams. There are not enough words to express our gratitude.
There will be a funeral mass at his home parish, Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, located at 6885 Del Rosa Ave., San Bernardino, 92404, will be held on November 26 at 10am. In lieu of flowers, B.J. requested a donation to the Parish's Pantry. Please contact the parish office at 909-884-6375 for more information.