First named a bishop in 1960 when he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Ottawa, Bishop Charbonneau went on to become the first bishop of Hull (now Gatineau) on May 21, 1963. He held the position until 1973 when he was forced into retirement due to health issues.
Bishop Charbonneau was one of the Canadian bishops who participated in the plenary sessions of the Second Vatican Council from 1962-65. He served on numerous commissions and committees of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops over the years, as well as the CCCB's Board of Administration (now the Permanent Council) and the Commission for Theology (today the Commission for Doctrine).
After his resignation, Bishop Charbonneau was the founding bishop of a formation program for priests in Pierrefonds, Que., and also often preached retreats for priests in the French sector dioceses of Canada.
Bishop Charbonneau was born in Sainte-Therese de Blainville, Que., in 1922 and was ordained a priest on May 31, 1947.
Bishop Charbonneau's funeral Mass will be held May 31, 10 a.m., at St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal.