An immigrant from Argentina, an engineer and a successful businessman, Deacon Cambre was most proud of his 30 years as a deacon in St. Gabriel's parish in Toronto, St. Francis Xavier in Mississauga and St. Christopher's in Mississauga.

David Zuber of Mississauga remembered the day Cambre presided at his marriage.

"He wished for us that we have the great marriage that he and (his wife) Terry had," wrote Zuber in a Toronto newspaper's online obituary column. "I think of those words often. He made our special day that much more special."

Deacon Cambre helped establish new ministries to some of the most marginalized people in the archdiocese. He was there at the beginning of the Friends of Dismas, an ecumenical ministry to ex-convicts. He pioneered El Sembrador, which ministers to about 700 Hispanic migrant workers who come every year to work on farms in the Holland Marsh north of Toronto. He encouraged deacons to work with addicts, prostitutes and the mentally ill on the streets in downtown Toronto.

The diaconate program in Toronto was so successful other dioceses sought advice from Deacon Cambre when they decided to establish the diaconate for themselves.

"Bert was a very passionate and vigourous promoter of the diaconate," said Pitre. "He was a great support and advocate for deacons, especially when they were having trouble."

He may have ruffled a few feathers along the way, but nobody will recall him as anything but kind, said Pitre.

Deacon Cambre was ordained June 18, 1983 and his wife Maria Teresa was along for the ride the whole way. He was 70 when he died. He leaves five children, five grandchildren and a brother. A Mass of Christian burial was to be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Burlington April 4. He will be buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Burlington.