Most Rev. J. Vernon Fougere, bishop emeritus of Charlottetown, died Tuesday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown. He was 70.

The native of Petit de Grat, Cape Breton served as bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown from 1991-2009. He retired because of ill health in 2009 but continued to reside in Charlottetown.

He was succeeded by Most Rev. Richard Grecco as bishop of Charlottetown.

A graduate of St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Fougere studied theology at the Grand Seminary of Montreal and in 1969 he was ordained to the priesthood for service in the Diocese of Antigonish.

Following education at the Jesuit Theological Union at the University of California, Fougère returned to Nova Scotia where he served in a number of parishes before being appointed vicar general and director of pastoral services for the Diocese of Antigonish in 1988. Among other things, the bishop served as chair of the Council of Priests for the Diocese of Antigonish and served on the board of governors for Saint Francis Xavier University.

On Dec. 11, 1991, Pope John Paul II appointed Fougère as the 12th Bishop of Charlottetown and was consecrated and installed at Charlottetown's St. Dunstan's Basilica on March 19, 1992.

Fougere was active in the Catholic Church. Among other organizations, he has served as member of the National Council of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace and was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Catholic Mission in Canada for the year 2000.

Remains are resting at Belvedere Funeral Home with completed funeral arrangements to be announced Thursday.