Thelma Boudreau

May 16, 1930 to December 21, 2022

After 56 days in Ridge Meadows Hospital, sadly Thelma passed away December 21, 2022. She was loved, will be missed but never forgotten. She is survived by 4 children, their spouses, 10 grandchildren and their spouses and 15 great grandchildren.

Thelma grew up in Maillardville where she met Alcide Boudreau on Christmas Eve in 1948. Thelma said she knew he was the one. It was love at first sight! They got married on July 1st 1950 and their 61 years of adventure began. They moved to Surrey where they raised their 5 children, working hard over the years, Thelma at Reitman’s, then Zellers and Sid at Lister’s Bolt and Chain. (Not without life’s little ups and downs their house was filled with laughter, noisy chaos, celebrations, dancing, friends and family)

We will always remember summer camping trips, many hot summer days/evenings at White Rock or Crescent Beach with a picnic supper or lunch, an occasional brown jug of root beer, french fries wrapped in newspaper and a swim to cool off, Friday night hot dogs and potato chips, a dinner out for Chinese food, dancing in the living room, Sunday roast supper, a bath, Ed Sullivan, Bonanza and many a quarter found deep in Thelma’s purse for a trip to the corner store.

Their travels took them by plane and ground across Canada. They dipped their toes in the Pacific and then in the Atlantic Ocean, to Hawaii, Mexico, bus trips to Reno and they motor homed throughout the USA, up the Alaska Highway and into the Yukon. There are many a photo album lovingly put together by Thelma that shows their love of camping, family, friends, new and old, new places and fishing all over BC.

In 1996, they settled in Pitt Meadows and joined the PM Seniors where they got involved in RMSS Seniors movement and Advisory Committee helping to develop it into what it is today. Thelma was also instrumental in providing feedback with the Accessibility Committee for the placement of those yellow raised dot sections on the sidewalks at intersections. Sid passed in 2011 and Thelma took up the laying of the seniors Remembrance Day wreath and continued to be involved at the Seniors Centre to attend Steering Committee meetings, working in the kitchen and decorating for special occasions. Thelma remained at the Meadowlands Co-Op in Pitt Meadows where they had developed years of memories and lots of great friends and she played an active part in setting up for special suppers, making coffees and sat on the selection Committee. She often talked of her time spent with her Friday night Coffee ladies, meeting at Tim’s, an early Friday Pub night dinner, many an afternoon visit, shopping and dinners out.

Back at the Clubhouse in the Meadowlands Co-Op, throughout the years she enjoyed the camaraderie around the special occasion events as well as Tuesday night Rummoli, Thursday morning coffee and chatting with everyone as they passed by on the grounds within the co-op. She always enjoyed an occasional trip to the Casino and it was a pleasure to see the excitement on her face or hear it in her voice, win or lose, it didn’t matter, it was the company and adventure she enjoyed.

Thelma was a strong willed, kind, dedicated person who loved her family unconditionally. She loved preparing meals and pleasing. She adored watching the changes in everyone as they grew through the years and cherished the little ones innocence, honesty and their carefree attitude. She would wait patiently for their next visit, wondering what surprises or adventures they might share. She loved nothing more than to watch Sid and bring him a warm cup of tea and a snack, as he would fish along the river or lakes edge. She was also an excellent navigator, alerting you of the intersection prior to your turn. She was as good as any GPS we have today!

There were many Remembrance Days, Christmases, Easters, Halloweens, Mothers Days, Thanksgivings, birthdays, graduations, baby showers, walks on the beaches, games in the yard and BBQ’s, that filled her heart. Thelma loved flowers, receiving cards from friends and family especially from her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and the drawings from the little ones would light up her face. Those days spent with loved ones and friends filled Thelma’s heart and soul with many memories.

Words of wisdom from Thelma, (Mom, Grandma, Granny, Great Grandma or Friend) Your worries never get smaller because as we add each new person into our lives not only does the love grow but so does the worry.

Thelma took great pride in her beautiful roses, and flowers that she looked after herself up until the last 2 years, when she needed help. Along with the many flowers, a cherry tomato plant was grown outside her front door, where she could pick and pop one in her mouth, on the way for her daily stroll.

From the words of Thelma “Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! What would I do without you? The world needs more of you’s!” Thelma often expressed her eternal gratitude for holidays celebrated, for special adventures, for unexpected visits, for just because, for some kind, caring home support ladies, for casino nights, for the cards, store bought or made with love, for the pictures, for always checking in, for years of Friday night coffees, for the occasional pub night, for holidays taken, Thursday morning coffees, chats on her walks throughout the co-op, for walking her home, for friends who became family, for the big and little things, for making her feel special, for the memories that filled her heart, for your kindness and love you gave without question!

Thelma will always be remembered for her love of baking that filled her house with tantalizing smells and in her freezer one could always find tasty buckets of cookies and cakes, for her grateful heart, her determined soul, her kindness, her love of life, family and friends and her grateful joy of each new adventure, her hard work, her volunteering, her infectious laugh, her unconditional love and no matter how tired, her please and thank you always.

We Love you to the moon and back, we will tell your stories and always feel your love … We will tuck you into our hearts beside Dad where we will carry you through the rest of our lives journey.

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