Marie "Pauline" Apolline Deveau

Deveau, Marie Apolline “Pauline” – 98 of Halifax, passed away peacefully with many of her family by her side on March 5, 2020, at the Ivany Campus of Northwood. Born in Meteghan, Nova Scotia she was the daughter of the late Edmund P and Lena Deveau (Thibodeau). She was dedicated to her family, and played an active role in her grandchildren’s lives as a loving Grandmere – always present to share in special family times and making lasting memories. She took great pride in the many and varied accomplishments of her children and grandchildren.

Pauline moved to Halifax at 19 years of age and worked at the Simpsons Department Store for many years. It was in Halifax that she met Louis, later marrying in Meteghan at the age of 23, on Louis’ 21st birthday. Many summers for her children and grandchildren were spent at the family “Camp” on Shad Bay – where the water was often too cold to swim – but she always found ways to ensure everyone had great fun, from lobster boils to an expansive vegetable garden that she and Louis lovingly tended to daily. Later in life, Pauline and Louis spent many winters in Florida, where they would enjoy wine poolside and come back with great sun tans and the best souvenirs from their travels.

Weekends were full of family time – from impromptu family dinners, to almost never missing a weekly card game with her sister Margaret and her husband Wallace, and faithful attendance to mass and other events at her parish of over 60 years, St. Catherine’s. She made sure nobody ever left her house hungry regardless of the time of day you popped in – from baking bread, to her famous rappie pie, and always having a cupboard fully stocked with special pop and snacks that the grandchildren often weren’t allowed to eat at home. She was notorious for hating to have her picture taken and refusing to smile but it was around her family that she was the happiest and if you were lucky, you might catch a photo when she wasn’t looking.

She was devoted to her Louis, her husband for over 67 years prior to his passing in 2011.

She is survived by sons Marcel (Janet) of Kings Head NS, Paul (Bonny) of Ottawa Ontario; and sister Margaret Cottreau of Halifax. Pauline was Grandmere to Mark, Nicole, Anthony, Matthew, Michelle, and Andre, and Great-Grandmere to Braden, Olivia, Wesley, Lucas, Raley and Louis. She was predeceased by two sons at birth; daughter Lena; siblings Emma Pothier, Victor Deveau, and Angele Sperling.

Visitation will be held 6-8pm on Monday March 9 at JA Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax. Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday March 10 at St. Catherine of Siena, 6476 Bayers Road at 2pm with Rev. Francesco Pirisi and Rev. John DeCoste officiating. A special thank you to Sister Rita for her help and support. A private family inurnment will take place in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Donations may be made to the Northwood Foundation (to the attention of Ivany Place). The family would like to thank all of the staff at Ivany Place, where Pauline had resided for the past 8 years, especially those in Mayflower, who welcomed her to her new home when first arriving at Ivany Place, and those in Fisherman’s Landing who lovingly cared for Pauline in her last days, consistently going above and beyond, bringing her comfort and a high quality of care, and the occasional laugh. To say that they were caring and compassionate just simply isn’t enough.