Marie Rickie Florence Stack Savoie

(Written by Ronna, delivered by Don)

Marie was born in Rexton, NB Nov 26, 1936 to

Bartholomew Stack and Doris (Woods) and grew up in Minto, NB with her 4 brothers: Jack, Ron, Bev, and Art

And her two sisters: Maxine (Smith) and Eva (Daigle)

Sadly some of her family are no longer living. Her brother, Ronnie has been missed for many years, and recently Jack has passed away. Although Jack lived in Ontario for many years, Marie kept him close by telling JACK AND MARIE stories to her grandchildren.

The Stack family continues to grow and Marie enjoyed going to the cottage at Grand Lake to see everyone. I am told that there is a four letter word that describes Marie’s Minto family and it starts with the letter "L"—L.O.U.D! Seriously though, it is L.O.V.E. She was proud to be s Stack.

Marie graduated from Mt Carmel with a teachers degree , then moved to Campbellton, NB where she taught for a short time. After meeting her best friend Claudette she fell in love and married Claudettes younger brother Ronald Savoie.

He knew from the beginning he had found a Determined woman. He told the story many times about her being so Stubborn that she would walk through a mud puddle in her good clothes if he told her NOT to.

They became each others best friends and remained that way for over 47 years. Married July 14, 1958, Campbellton is where they raised their family of three: Ronna, Paul, and Marc who expanded the family to include 5 grandchildren: Andrea, David, Alexis, Hailey, and Caitlin, and one great grandchild: Levi

Their years together bringing up a young family was fun. A lot of time was spent on the boat and at the cottage. Many of you here probably have wonderful memories of that time.

Marie liked to laugh at herself. Some of you were with her when she drank the lemon soup at the Chinese restaurant instead of washing her hands in it, and others when she ate the sesame seed balls that were meant to feed the birds.

Marie became very thrifty and was always looking for a good deal. A Dry cleaners was advertising a .99 cent shirt sale so she went in to shop and asked the clerk where the .99 cent shirts were. He said” How should I know. You tell me.” After a lot of conversation she had to be told that it was $. 99 to dry clean a shirt, they were NOT for sale.

After a short move to Sussex, NB, Ron and Marie moved to Halifax. Nova Scotia. It was a hard transition to leave their life long friends and start over. A hard worker, Marie was willing to take a job planting strawberry plants for a time.

She learned to drive at age 55. Some of you were probably around for the first time she got her license. She told many stories about her driving on the wrong side of the road. She hung up her keys after meeting head on with a police car. One of them was in the wrong lane. It was not the police!

Knowing this story her 5 year old Grandson set up pylons in the driveway to teach her how to drive and park. It was one of her fondest memories.

Of course going the wrong direction for her was very common: I am told that one time she got off the train and walked down the tracks into the dark while all the other passengers walked the opposite direction to the station. Her family reminded her about this often.

Both she and Ron worked at and retired from Dalhousie University, the custodial department. Living in Nova Scotia for 19 years allowed them to be close to Their daughter Ronna and husband: Avery Wilson, and their two children: Andrea (Bezanson) and David. Their Nanny always made them feel special. She would discreetly tell David often that he was her Favorite grandson. We are not sure at what age he clued into the fact that he was her ONLY grandson.

Their second born, Paul was the artist in the family. At age 3, he and his sister painted her NEW WHITE fridge a green to match the old one. Mom didn't say a word. Instead she went out and bought flower stickers to decorate it. It looked like a hippy fridge. When Paul was a teen she let him paint life size figures of the music rock band “Kiss”on his wall. She especially liked a plaster horse wall hanging he did for them in later years.

After Ron’s death 8 years ago, their third son Marc was blessed to have his mom move back to Campbellton where she could enjoy his and Donna (Doucet’s) children: Alexis, Hailey, and Caitlin as they grew up. They will no doubt remember their bedtime lullaby: The Beatles “Yellow submarine."

One day one of the girls asked Nanny if she could watch nanny put her makeup on. She said “Sure”. When finished she looked over at her grandaughter for approval and got the response "Humph. You still look like an old granny to me!"

In recent years she had the privilege of spending winters in Florida with her best friend: Claudette and husband Bob. She was able to rekindle long lost friendships. It was like GOING HOME- but with a lot warmer weather. Shopping and theme parties were a common pass time.

She never, however, stopped missing and loving Ron.

Marie was always willing to help out. When her mother in law Eva became terminal with cancer, Marie moved into her home and cared for her until she passed away. When Marc and Donna needed help with the children while Donna finished her education she again moved in to look after her grandchildren. Then when Marc was renovating she shared her home with his family. It was cramped quarters for a long time but she never complained. She did a lot of cooking and laundry. Actually she did that for all of her children. No doubt Paul is going to miss their regular suppers together. Feeding people made her happy.

Marie’s family would like to thank each one of you for your attendance and support. They have prepared some of Marie’s favorite desserts and invite you to visit at Marc’s home on 24 Patterson Street to enjoy a snack and association.

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THOUGHTS FROM CLAUDETTE

It is a sad occasion that unites us today, but I want to take this opportunity to Honor my good friend, and sister in law, Rickie, and share some memories with you.

I first met her in the fall of 1955, when she arrived in Campbellton as a young school teacher. She was friendly, she was pretty, she was fun, and we soon bonded as friends. We were all 18 & 19 year olds, just out of school and in our first jobs. It was a time of elongated chrome laden cars, doo wop music, drive in movies, and Saturday night dances with the Stardusters at the Legion on Union street. The 50’s were a great time to grow up in.

It wasn’t long before Rickie caught the eye of a good looking young guy, my brother, Ron. I think for them, it was love at first sight, because for the rest of her life he was the only man for her.

We soon all married, had kids, and went our separate ways, but we always came back to Campbleeton for salmon festival week in the summer. The highlight of that week was usually a day out on Ron’s big flat bottomed fishing boat. I can’t recall ever fishing on it, but we had lots of fun.

I really got to know Rickie even better the year my Dad died in 1965. Bob accepted a transfer to Bathurst and we moved back to NB for a year, all sharing Mom’s big house, which is now Marcs beautifully renovated big house. We both had 2 kids and were pregnant that same year for our 3rd child. She with Marc, and I with Brian. When everyone was at home, we were 13 people in total, sharing one bathroom. So at times things were rather hectic. I have such fond memories of that year, especially that Christmas, stands out in my memory as a very special one. We had two beautiful new babies, 4 youg kids, 2 teenagers (my younger brothers), our husbands and Gramma Savoie, joined in. I think that year seeing us all together and happy helped Mom to begin the healing process after the shock of losing my dad so suddenly.

Time went on, our kids grew up, and Ron and Rickie eventually moved to Mount Uniacke, NS and we steeled in Ontario.

But we reunited in 20005, when they joined us for 2 weeks in Florida. They liked it so much, that they extended their visit with Rickie’s brother Jack who had a home in Palmetto, and they reserved a place for the following year. But sadly, it was not to be, because Ron passed away of Cancer that October of 05. When he died, Rickie, who had lost her soul mate and best friend, I think died inside a little also.

Her life soon took on new meaning when she went to live with Marc and his family, to help out while Donna returned to University. She doted on her 3 grandchildren, Alexis, Hailey, and Caitlin, and was proud of all of their accomplishments. She also had 2 older lovely grandchildren, Andrea and David, and a little great grandson, Levi, who was the apple of her eye.

The next 6 winters were spent with us in Clearwater, Florida and there again she endeared herself to everyone she met. We truly became sisters in those 6 winters, so much so, that people at the resort and even in some stores, assumed we were sisters.

I will miss her smile, her laugh, her sense of humor, her willingness to Pitch in and help no matter what was asked of her. I will always cherish theses fond memories of my good friend, and sister Rickie.

* * * * * * * * * *

MARIE FLORENCE (RICKIE) SAVOIE

CAMPBELLTON, NB died at home in a fire on March 30, 2013. She was 76 years old.

Marie was born in Rexton, NB Nov 26, 1936 to Bartholomew Stack and Doris (Woods) and grew up in Minto, NB with her 4 brothers: Jack, Ronnie, Bev and Art, and her two sisters: Maxine (Smith) and Eva (Daigle)

She graduated from Mt Carmel with a teacher’s degree, then moved to Campbellton, NB where she taught, then married her best friend Ronald Savoie who she lost after 47 years to cancer. During her 19 years in Halifax, NS she and Ron both worked at and retired from Dalhousie University.

They were close to their daughter Ronna (husband: Avery Wilson) and their two children: Andrea (Bezanson) and David. Their second son Paul was also able to spend close time with them. Their third son Marc was blessed to have Marie and Paul back in Campbellton as his and Donnas (Doucet) chilren: Alexis, Hailey, and Caitlin grew up. Her only great grandchild Levi, age 3 lives in NS

A celebration to her life service will be held at Maher's Funeral Chapel, 64 Lansdowne St., Campbellton, NB, Saturday April 20th at 2 pm with visitation one hour before the service.