Reta Doris Lapointe

Reta (Nana) Lapointe passed away peacefully at Deer Lodge Centre on May 27.

Nana was predeceased by her beloved husband Lucien (Lucky) in 2007. She is survived by her three daughters in Winnipeg: Marlene and Russ Muth of Winnipeg (Kristi and Thom Sheridan, Philip and Paige of West Plains, Missouri; and Kevin Muth and daughter Alisha of Winnipeg); Shirley and Garry Bolton (Curt and Cristy Sellors, Brooklyn and Teagan; Scott Sellors and Jen Olson, Aden, Ava, and Blakely - all of Winnipeg; and Adrienne of Victoria); and Diane Lapointe (Ben and Naomi Johnson and Theo of Winnipeg; Vanessa Johnson and Stephen Atherton of Kelowna; and Alex and Shannon Johnson of Calgary).

Reta was the youngest of three children, both brothers Louis and Middie predeceased her. Reta's adoptive parents were Malvena and Donat Lefebvre. Reta was born in Portage La Prairie and as a child first lived in Portage La Prairie, then in Winnipeg, Stonewall and Balmoral. Reta was schooled in Stonewall for Grade 1, then in Argyle and finally in Balmoral. Oh, the stories of the horse drawn buggy and canvas covered sleigh rides from the farm to school. Reta met Lucky at a dance in Winnipeg, and they were married for 62 years. She made the house that Papa built in Ft. Garry into a home for their family of five. While raising three daughters she loved working part time at Cottage Bakery; and was known by one and all as a wonderful cook and baker. For many years boarders stayed in the Lapointe home while attending university, enjoying the family's hospitality and Reta's cooking. Some of those young men stayed in touch with Reta, by way of cards and letters, for decades after they had graduated and left. Nana also made their cottage at Sunset Beach into an active family gathering place, spending the summers with her daughters' families and grandchildren, and then made it a cozy and comfortable retirement home. Who else has a hot tub on the second floor overlooking Lake Winnipeg?

Mom and Dad instilled in each of their daughters a strong work ethic, and with their support and guidance they were so proud to see the three of us complete our post-secondary education and have successful careers. Reta and Lucky loved to travel, going to Texas and Florida many times but with a special love for their trips to Hawaii. Nana's eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren put a sparkle in her eye. Her later years were spent in the Meadowood Manor Independent Living Complex, where she enjoyed the friendship of many of her neighbours.

The family wishes to give a very special thanks to the Doctors, Nurses and Caregivers at both Concordia Hospital and Deer Lodge Centre; and in particular to Dr. Burnell at Concordia and Dr. Peitsch at Deer Lodge Centre. The health care teams at both centres worked valiantly, under unique and extreme conditions, to provide Nana with the care she needed in this very difficult time; and they maintained continuous communication with the family. Visits were forbidden, and the only faces Nana saw for the last 3 months wore masks.

A private family celebration of her life is being planned for later this summer. She is greatly loved and will be greatly missed.