Mrs. Constance Marie Normandin Gelinas

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the unexpected passing of Connie (Constance Marie Theresa) Gelinas nee Normandin originally from Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA on December 24th, 2012 at 10:24pm in her 87th year at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. She was blessed to be surrounded by her loving family until the very end of her life. Connie was a devoted wife and mother and is survived by her husband and best friend of 64 years Charles Gelinas. Connie and Charlie grew up, met and married in the French Canadian community in Woonsocket. She attended St. Clare High School and he attended Mount St. Charles. They are survived by three loving daughters: Laurel Gelinas (Dr. Joanne F. Liutkus) of Cambridge, Ontario, Patrice DiTusa (Louie) of LaBelle, Florida, Dr. Danielle Gelinas (Jeanie Flanagan) of Toronto, Ontario; an only grandchild Kristen Walker nee Smith (Eric Walker) and three amazing great grandchildren Jordan, Brendan and Abigail Walker, all of LaBelle, Florida. Connie is predeceased by her father Leopold Normandin of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA who died in the Spanish Influenza epidemic when Connie was an infant and mother Delia Rondeau of Magog, Quebec as well as a brother Robert Normandin also of Rhode Island. Connie and Charlie moved to Cambridge, Ontario 11years ago and were happy to return to the country of their ancestors. Throughout her life, Connie was an artist who enjoyed creating through sewing, quilting and pottery. Her handiwork adorns the homes of all those she knew and loved. She was a woman of great faith and conviction. She will be remembered for her quick wit, her sense of humour and amazing memory, especially for math and numbers. The family would like to thank Community Care Access and especially Anne from ParaMed for her care and friendship over the past year, the nurses of the Intensive Care Unit and 5B Medicine at Cambridge Memorial Hospital for their exemplary care as well as Dr. Roya Shaikholeslami, Internal Medicine/Cardiology for not only her expert medical care but also for her kindness and compassion for Connie at the end of her life. We are grateful to Dr. Richard Russek as her family physician and Dr. J. E. Paulseth as her neurologist for taking care of Connie throughout the years. A private mass was held at St. Clement's Roman Catholic Church on December 28th, 2012. Many thanks to Father Phil Sherlock, the altar attendants and choir for a beautiful and moving service. Thank you to all our family and friends who called, emailed and/or travelled long distances to be with us at our time of need. Your loving kindness is forever appreciated. Cremation has taken place. Connie will be placed in her niche at Mount View Cemetary in Cambridge, Ontario in early 2013. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Parkinson's Society, the Heart and Stroke Association of Canada or a charity of your choice. She will be missed...