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Passed away in Montreal on Friday, the 22nd of November, 2013 at the age of 76. He was the son of the late Gabrielle Charbonneau and Roger Malouin.

He leaves in mourning his wife, Ute Frein, his parents-in-law, Christel and Anton Tzulas, his favorite sister-in-law, Elena Weise, and many friends and colleagues.

In 1962 Harel received his doctorate in philosophy at the University of Paris and in 1976 studied existential psychology at the University of Regina. He was a professor of philosophy at Collège Sainte-Marie de Montréal and from 1962 was the founding president of the faculty association until 1969 when the college was replaced by the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM). Harel played an active role in the founding of UQAM, serving on a variety of committees and commissions. He was chair of UQAM's Philosophy Department three times: 1971-1972, 1975-1976 and 1976-1978 and was held in high regard by his students and colleagues for his integrity and for his devotion to his teaching and the department. At the end of his career with his colleague André Vidricaire, he developed a new field of study, the intellectual history of Quebec. Harel retired from UQAM in 1995.

Harel was a highly cultured man with a passionate interest in film and literature, in particular poetry: in recent years, inspired by the surrealism that he discovered in Paris, he wrote many poems that are part of his intellectual legacy.

In accordance with Harel's wishes, there will be no ceremony at the funeral home, but in the beginning of 2014, there will be a private celebration of his life for his friends and family.

The family wishes to thank the personnel at Notre-Dame Hospital, especially those in the neurological intensive and palliative care units. It also wishes to thank Doctors André Durocher and Yves Quenneville for their support and professionalism.

For those who wish to make a donation, the family suggests that it be sent to Fondation PalliAmi for assisting palliative care patients. www.palliami.org

LETTRE DU CIEL Premièrement, je veux que sache que Le voyage c’est bien passé et que je suis bien arrivé. J’ai écris cette lettre du ciel ; ici, il n’y a pas de larmes ni de souffrance. Il y a juste ; l’amour éternel. Ne soit pas triste parce que tu ne me vois plus ; je suis toujours avec toi et même plus près. La journée de ma vie sur terre est finie. Le bon Dieu m’attendait les bras ouverts, et il me dit : Bienvenue ! C’est un plaisir de te revoir et tu nous as manqué. J’avais besoins de toi car nous avions tellement à faire En tant que personne sur terre. Le bon Dieu m’a donné une liste de choses à faire et la plus importante est de prendre soin de toi ainsi que tous ceux que j’ai aimé sur terre. Quand tu penseras à moi, tu auras les larmes aux yeux et c’est normal. Il n’y a pas de fleurs sans pluie. Mais je suis plus proche de toi aujourd’hui, que je ne l’étais sur terre. Tu as encore beaucoup de montagne à traverser mais nous pouvons le faire ensemble, un jour à la fois. Quand tu sentiras la brise ou le vent sur ta joue : c’est moi qui te donnera un petit baiser. Quand viendra le temps de te libérer de ton corps, souviens-toi que tu ne partiras pas, mais que nous serons réunit. Je t’aimerai toujours. En passant, le Bon Dieu te fait dire bonjour !