Mrs. Annette Mulhall (Lagimodiere)

Annette is survived by her children Dale (Lauren), Tom, Ann Copps (John), Glen (Dee) and Peter, grandchildren Liam (Sarah), Colleen (Sajid), Natalie (Conor), Ian (Sarah), Breanna (Matt), Drew (Tori), Sarah (Caleb), Cole (Bailey) and Bailey, great-grandchildren Quinn and Huxley Mulhall and Nora-lo and Fredric Hartung, her sisters Muriel Armstrong and Betty Anderson (Ed), her brothers Albert (Judy), Norbert (Connie) and Brian Lagimodiere, sisters-in-law Patricia Dartige-Clements and Donalda Lagimodiere, brothers-in-law Garth Cowie and Brunel Vandal, their families and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 68 years, Bill (Dec. 12, 2018), her daughter-in-law Fran (December 26, 2023), parents Herve and Neva, sisters Judith Lagimodiere (infancy) and Herveline (Lin) Vandal, brothers and their wives/sisters-in-law Louis and Marion, Ronald and Helen, and Maurice and Violet, brother Allen, brother-in-law Michael Mulhall, sisters-in-law and husbands Norah and Lee Patenaude, Theresa and Raymond Fitzpatrick, sister-in-law Mary Cowie and brothers-in-law Wayne Armstong, Andre Dartige, and Lionel Clements, nephews Bruce, Neil, John, Greg and Dru Lagimodiere and Blair Murray.

Marie Louise Antoinette was the official name on Annette’s birth certificate as completed by a nun. Annette Marie was the name given by her mother and which she used her entire life. Annette was born in the family home on Deerhorn Road in what was known at the time as Abbeville in the Manitoba Interlake region. She was a direct descendent of Jean Baptiste Lagimodiere, the grandfather of Louis Riel, and was proud of her Metis heritage.

At the age of 4, her dad Herve relocated the family north to Pine Bluff, a small Metis community located 50 miles east of The Pas on the banks of the Saskatchewan River. He was better able to provide for the family by hunting and trapping in Pine Bluff than in the Interlake during the Great Depression.

Being the second child and the first daughter in a family of 12 and with a father often away on the trapline, meant that at an early age Annette often had to take on the duties of a second parent to her younger siblings. So very much like her mother, she was a born nurturer and homemaker.

School in Pine Bluff was a very small rudimentary log cabin for the several local school aged children. At the age of 13, the family moved to The Pas where Annette was able to access formal education in English. Until then French was the language spoken at home. She graduated from Grade 11 and because of her mathematical aptitude she was immediately hired by the Royal Bank.

Within a couple of years, she married Bill, the hunk next door. After residing in Lac du Bonnet for a short time they returned to The Pas and started their family. Along with her mathematical ability, intelligence and sense of humour, Annette possessed an extremely good memory, all traits seen in her children and grandchildren. Right up to the end of her life if her children were trying to remember some family history, she would immediately come up with the answer. Bill also had a great memory and analytical mind. Together they stressed the value of higher education. Because of their guidance and support, the professions chosen by their children and grandchildren include Architecture, Biology, Finance, Law, Medicine, Optometry, Speech Pathology, and the skilled technical trades.

Annette was a lifelong learner and stressed the importance of keeping up with new technologies. She was the first in the family to get a Face Book account. She had an IPad handy to keep in touch with family, friends and most importantly her beloved grandchildren.

Annette also had a very creative side. While living once again in Lac du Bonnet in the late 70s and early 80s, she worked at M and W Variety and, along with the co-owner Marg Auld, spent many hours creating floral designs. She had ceramics and crafts constantly on the go and loved trying any new craft of the moment. She sewed many of her own clothes and those of her children. Knitting meant her family was always supplied with warm sweaters, toques, mittens and slippers. She was always coming up with knitted gifts for the grandchildren. She was in her element teaching her granddaughters and caregivers difficult knitting techniques.

While not being very athletic she loved watching sporting events. Great discussions were had about the Jets, the Blue Bombers, curling and golf. She even managed to teach her caregivers the game of hockey which they would watch religiously together. Her favourite competitive “sport” was beating her grandchildren at Scrabble (much like her mother Neva).

With retirement, Bill and Annette settled in Winnipeg. She helped with the day-to-day accounting of her sons’ optometric practices.

Practising her faith was very important to Annette. She and Bill were regulars at Christ the King Parish for many years.

Growing up in the north, in a large family, Annette needed to keep in touch. She and Bill kept the family cottage at Clearwater Lake, MB until 2017. They would continue to drive up there well into their 80s. This enabled them to maintain all their family connections. Sisters Betty and Muriel were like close friends.

Annette raised her children to be independent and inquisitive individuals. Because of this, they travelled all over the world, causing her great concern until they were safely home once again.

Annette was the quiet glue to the family. She will be remembered for her courage, generosity, and elegant way. Her memory and intelligence were unmatched. Most of all, Annette was a nurturer and provider who cared and loved deeply, a true family homemaker, proud of and quietly demanding of her children. She often said her happiest times were when she was busy raising her family. In recent years, her “happy pills” were her great grandchildren. Her face would light up when they came for a visit. She will be greatly missed and memories of her cherished.

The family would like to most importantly thank her son, Peter, for his loving, tireless devotion and constant care over the past three and a half years. Thank you also to Dr. Abdulrehman and Joanne, her “girls” over the years Mariia, Gelila, Lesiya, Aziza, Ren, Rhona, Raezel and, in particular Olga, who always came when needed. Most especially we thank Josie, mom’s constant companion, caregiver and friend over the last three years and our “Angel”.

Her children would be honoured to have family, friends and acquaintances join them January 26, 2024, at 11:30 am for mass followed by a celebration of Annette’s life in the parish hall at Christ the King Parish Church, 847 St. Mary’s Rd, Winnipeg, MB.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that a donation in Annette’s name be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, Cancer Care Manitoba or the St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation.