Lucille Landry

Peacefully, following a lengthy illness, it is with sadness that we announce the passing of Lucille Landry on June 4, 2012, age 81 years at Action Marguerite (Taché Centre), St. Boniface, MB.

She will be lovingly remembered by her family, friends and caregivers. She is survived by her children: Léo, Guy (Janine) and Gisèle, grandchildren: Matthew and Sara, siblings: Thérèse, Sr. Alma, Henri, Aline, Maurice, Simone, Gilles, Jacqueline and many nephews and nieces as well as great nephews and nieces.

Lucille was predeceased by her husband Jean, parents Edmour Fontaine, Yvonne (née Bouchard) both born in the province of Quebec and brothers Joe and Yvon.

Lucille was a devoted wife and mother, she greeted any who crossed her path with a hello and gave thanks for any kindness shown. Her fingers bent from years of prolific knitting, multi coloured dish clothes and afghans as treasured gifts for friends and family. Mum showed much grace, strength and courage through her illness. She will be remembered for her love and acceptance of each and every one.

Special thanks to the staff and residents of 4 DE at Action Marguerite.

Donations may be made in Lucille’s memory to Action Marguerite, 185 Despins, Winnipeg, MB, R2H 2B3 or Cancer Care Manitoba, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0Z9

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at 10:00 am at Green Acres Funeral Home and Cemetery, Hwy #1 and Navin Road.

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Eulogy read by

Leo Landry

Hello, thank you, bye, love you (Allô, merci, bye bye, je t’aime)

Hello. Mum always greeted those that crossed her path with a hello, and so, I greet you today: hello.

Forgive me for any slight inaccuracies in this tale; also, if I may have missed anything or said too little or said too much, sorry.

Mum, born, Lucille Fontaine, to life at the Old Farm (la vieille ferme), next to the Rat River, in St. Agathe, Manitoba. Fourth child, daughter of Edmour and Yvonne; she’s the cute little girl, second to the left, in one of the old framed black and white photos on display.

It was a pretty hard life, such as it is with large farm families of that day. The children need to get involved with work at a young age which is exactly what Mum had to do. As a growing boy, she often told me stories of those days, and of her life as she grew up to become the young woman who moved to the city.

Being one of the older kids, she soon enough was required to perform many various chores about the farm: caring for the younger ones as they came along, food preparation, harvesting the garden produce for sale to some of the food processors in Winnipeg, milking the cows early in the morning and into the evening. These required strength and determination, qualities she retained right through to her very last moments.

She told me of sleeping in beds shared with siblings and bedbugs (ew about the bedbugs). Then, early morning wake up, she and Ma Tante Soeur, out to bring in the cows and milk them before the three mile walk to school. Upon return home, there’d be helping in the kitchen or with the younger ones, then, the evening milking.

School; I believe she went up to grade 8; she always gave me the sense that she loved school, the opportunity to learn, the desire to do well, yet not having the opportunity to do better that her modest results due to those necessary farm chores. She described to me how sometimes, she turn on some kind of light at night, a candle? So she could read a little from her school books.

School; as she grew up, she got a bit plump, so she says. Sadly, this, her lower grades, caused some to tease her, Mother Goose some called her, she couldn’t understand why. Courage: one day, the teacher called her as such, Mother Goose! Well, my Mum stood up and boldly declared, Mother Goose, that’s not my name!!

School; Mum always valued a good education and tried her best to instill that ideal into her own children. I was always impressed at just how smart and clever she was as she helped me with my own homework: dictée, arithmetic, etc. Heheh, funny thing, in high school, I would also get up in the middle of the night to finish up some homework, but more because I wanted to play in the evening than because of chores.

Though the farm life was hard, it also provided the richness of that type of family life, what with parents, caring for grandparents and uncles and aunts and many cousins living nearby. She told me how she and her sister Alma would make tall stilts and walk around the yard. Sometimes, when the chance was there, they’d take off with the only bicycle!!! Yay!!! There was skating on la rivière au rats, though she once fell through the ice, saved by some cousins, and not being well for quite some time after. It could be a fun and crazy family, with bratty brothers who’d ride the wagon down the stairs or, stick live birds into their mouths!!! Uncle Henri, just over a year younger, told of how they hung out with some of their favourite cousins, and they’d play and wrestle. He declared that he was never able to take her down!

One time, Mémère and Pépère were to be away for a while, Mémère asked that she and Alma walk to town to buy some bread off their account at the general store. Well, as soon as the parents were gone, they agreed that Alma decided to clean up the house, while Lucille proceeded to prepare and bake a large batch of bread! Mmmm, must have smelled so good! And, needless to say, the parents were suitably impressed!!!

Another time, Mum was given a list of items to purchase at this same store. So, the three mile walk, gather together the items on the list, and why not treat herself, and so she did to a small bag of penny candies! When the bill for the account came and upon review, this purchase was discovered, well, needless to say her parents were suitable very unimpressed, sounds like she got quite the scolding!

As Mum grew up, she sometimes worked at neighbouring farms, her job helping to care for the house and the children. Eventually, she got a job at the hotel in St. Pierre. In those days, she considered herself fat, and she had a bad problem with acne. She always told me how much she appreciated the caring of Mme. Caron, the lady she worked for. This woman put her in touch with a doctor in the city who prescribed a cream which helped clear her face. This and a determined effort to slim down helped her transform into an attractive young woman who soon moved to the city where she worked for a time the St. Joseph’s Academy, and then at the St. Boniface.

She roomed with her sister Therese and got along nicely, though, one time, returning from work, Aunty Terry had prepared oatmeal. Phew, was Mum upset! “Du gruau pour souper!!! Right!” Otherwise, they helped each other nicely, searching on all fours for a ring that dropped and disappeared under some furnishing, or both sitting on the couch in their bras and panties, waiting to get dressed for Aunty Terry and Uncle Boris’ wedding day.

Mum made many lifelong friendships in those early days in the city. They always hung out together, introducing each other to some nice guy whom they would eventually marry. This is how she met her future husband, when she was introduced by her friend Laurette to a handsome young lad by the name of Jean Landry! They quickly fell in love and on January 4th, 1956, they married.

Mum was very well prepared for this, having already used her earning to buy living room and bedroom furniture and various necessary items, and settling with Dad into their first home, and apartment on la rue Aulneau. On November 9th of that year, their first child was born, me! She left her job to tend to home and family. A couple years later, on March 25, 1959, my brother Guy came along giving her two fine boys to care for. Due to our closeness of age, Guy and I share many common memories of Mum.

She brought us up with a strong discipline. Respect was very important to my parents and so, Guy and I did wind up spending some time, kneeling each on our own side of their little china cabinet. Guy recalls a time: French was to be spoken inside, so he suggested we tease her by speaking English inside! Whoa, she did not like that, and I’m sure we either got a washing of the mouths with soap, or set each in our place beside that cabinet!

But, mostly, she loved and took good care of us. Some of our favourite moments were when we’d go for walks, to the IGA on Des Meurons, the dentist at Marion and Enfield, the Safeway where Dad worked near Marion and Taché and for haircuts on Provencher. When Christmas came around there would be the bus ride to downtown to Eatons and having our pictures taken with Santa Claus.

A good cook, it was wonderful to come home to the fragrance of baked bread or roasts after a long day of playing outside. She made a point of exposing her children to her food preparation, helping us become pretty good cooks in our own right!

She had a particular sense of humour. She kicked off into peals of laughter when, as a very young boy, I snuck into the closet where can of paint was hidden and I painted myself blue (my favourite colour!) Pépère was there, didn’t think it funny whatsoever, but, I think Mum had it right! It was funny to see her little boy blue. Sometimes, when we’d be lying on the floor watching TV, she’d come up and step upon our bellies, with a slight skip so as not to press hard, this had us laughing!

Eventually, Mum and Dad were able to buy a house on St. Jean Baptiste. This is the time when Gisèle was born, October 13, 1965. It was a pleasure for each of us to have this little bundle of mischief, jumping for joy in the Jolly Jumper, or crawling through the cupboards, pots and pans spread throughout the kitchen. Some of Gisèle’s favourite memories are of how they cared for each other’s hair, Gisèle removing Mum’s hair curlers and Mum brushing her long glorious hair, braiding it up in various styles. Even when they were older, Mum expressed a desire to once again braid my sister’s hair. It was always a treat for Mum to host a party for Gisèle’s birthday and her friends.

On St. Jean Baptiste, Mum and Dad made new and lasting friendships among the neighbours, the Laurins, the Petits among many. Mum was soon babysitting some of the neighbour’s kids as a way to be active and earn a little extra income.

This making of friends was typical for Mum and Dad, wherever they lived, on Aulneau, St. Jean Baptiste and later on Goulet. Along with socializing with friends and family, Mum knitted, and knitted, and knitted, dish towels, and especially, her afghans. A number of us in the family have and treasure one of those afghans (my favourite thing to wrap myself in nice and cozy on the couch while dozing of watching TV.

When socializing, along with the chitchat, Mum loved to play cards. From the early days, playing Barouche, aux Dix, Dame de Pique (Hearts) and so on to one of her favourites, 2500. After Dad passed away, she enjoyed when any of us, friends, family, her children and her grandkids would pop by for a visit and a couple games of 2500.

Thank you, merci. Love you, je t’aime. When I was younger, I found that Mum didn’t show her emotions very much. I could be wrong, it may just be my own perception. But, after Dad passed away, with the grieving process, her heart bloomed, tears of sadness, for her loss, tears for any of whom she heard that were unwell due to some trouble or illness, tears of joy for any kindness shown her or some good fortune to another. In her tears, she would apologize, Sorry, I’m sorry. My siblings and I would respond, letting her know that her tears were beautiful, she should not be ashamed as they were a sign of the love she had, of the love in that beautiful tender heart she had within.

Especially in these last couple of years, after being diagnosed with her cancer, she showed gratitude to all who helped her, to all who cared for her, showing her love and appreciation, she gave a heartfelt thank you! Thank you. In the indignity of illness, she showed grace and dignity, to the Home Care and staff at Cathédrale Manor, to the staff at Cancer Care and those at her last home, Action Marguerite which we all know as Centre Taché.

Love you, je t’aime. I simply cannot imagine anyone Mum did not love nor care for. She loved everyone, hoping for them wellness, success and good health, no matter who they were, just as they were, just as they are. She loved every one, following the teaching “Love your neighbour as yourself, aimez-vous les uns les autres come je vous ai aimé.” Also, as in the Lord’s Prayer “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us”, she practiced that ideal, accepting each of us with our shortcomings and our qualities. She loved and accepted each one.

And so, as Mum would say:

Hello. Hello to each one of you here and to those who couldn’t make it.

Thank you. Thank you to each one of you here and to those who couldn’t make it.

Bye. Bye bye to each one of you here and to those who couldn’t make it.

Finally, love you, je t’aime, je vous aime. Love you to each of you here and to those who couldn’t make it.

Hello, thank you, bye bye, love you Lucille Landry. We will miss you dearly, Mum, Je t’aime.

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Memère`s Eulogy from her Grandchildren

Memère was a very loving grandmother. She took very good care of her only two grandchildren, Matthew and Sara. Memère always had a smile and had this glow in her eyes (just like Pepère). She would always talk and she always wanted to know almost everything about you. Like for me she would always ask “what time are your shifts?” and “how was school?” She always took some time to hear what was going on in my life. She was very organized and had a schedule she would follow every day. Before she would go to bed she would have her table set up with the bowls and cups for the morning. In the morning she would do the laundry every day and take a shower every morning, after that Pepère and her would eat breakfast, take their vitamins and do the dishes. I remember Sara and I would always help them dry and put away the dishes. Memère would also read the Free Press every morning. I also know whether it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner she would always have the table set for her meal.

I also remember when Sara and I would spend our days off and summers with them, that in the afternoon she would always be watching her soap operas. She would watch All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital. She would never say anything to me or Sara when we would sit there and watch them with her. My parents would get mad at us though because we watched them (it was not the right programming for a 10 year old) but we still got away with it.

Memère was the one who taught me how to knit, she also loved to crochet but I remember when I first learnt she told me “It’s too hard to learn crocheting just yet, you have to learn knitting first.” She was also the one who taught me how to play 2500. She loved playing that card game with her brothers and sisters. When she moved to her apartment on Goulet she would ask me and Sara to play 2500 with her. I remember one time I threw away a wild card because I could not use it and she got a little mad at me for putting it in the pile and she said “you should have kept it.” After that she said sorry. To me playing 2500 all the time I thought it was boring but now I realize all she wanted to do was spend some time with her grand kids. She also taught me how to play marbles.

One time after Christmas, she got a scratch ticket pack and she let Sara and I scratch the ones she did not like. Memère also had a keen sense of hearing. She could hear the littlest sound and come and check to see what it was. I remember sneaking into her kitchen very, very quietly to get to her cupboard that had the container with Smarties and I would open the door very quietly, get the lid off and as I am taking some she would come into the kitchen and catch in the act.

I also remember one time at my house, Memère brought us over to play with our sprinkler and I remember picking up the sprinkler and aiming it at her, she did not like that at all. I think I ran for dear life. I also know for a fact that she was very snoopy and had to know everything. Well I guess I inherited that gene because I need to know everything too and I am snoopy. I remember going to her place around the end of November or early December, they would have their Christmas tree already up with the lights and they would have their boxes of decorations out for Sara, me, Memère, Pepère, and sometimes my Aunt Gisele would also be there with us to decorate the tree. After we were done decorating we would go to Paladins for lunch. I lost track how many times Memère and Pepère got Sara and I breakfasts, and lunches.

She also really loved to cook and bake. I remember one time her and I made I believe her famous fudge cake. She also made this really good white cake with icing. Memère was the one who would always do my dictées with me before and after school. She would always help Sara and me with some of our homework in school whether it was French, or Math. Pepère was the one who would help me with my spelling tests. Memère too but she helped me more with my dictées.

She was also the one who showed me how to do word searches. She always had a word search book out that she was working on and I would always do some for her. Sara and I always had something to do at her place we were never really bored. I know she was very proud when I told her I started working at Tim Horton’s back when I was 16. She actually came a couple of times to Tim’s when I was working in store front and got the opportunity to serve her. Unfortunately she did not get to see me as a supervisor but she was still proud.

She was also very fortunate to see her grandson graduate from high school. I remember when we went to see her the day after my convocation, the smile on her face when she saw me. You should have seen the smile on her face when I put the graduation cap on her, boy did she light up. She also got to hear about my first year in university and she was very happy when I told her that I was taking Intro French. She was like “good for you.”

Even though she will not be there to see her granddaughter graduate high school and see her grandson graduate with his degree she will be there in our hearts. Her spirit will be there to congratulate us on a job well done. Memère always held her head up high and she would always say “Hello” to people. I know her spirit and Pepère’s was there with me on Wednesday when I wrote my third French test, I know they were there to support me and guide me. With their spirits there it made feel more confident writing it.

She always loved and respected everybody. She was one tough lady, who had a lot of strength and courage throughout her life. She carried that through right until the end. Memère you were my hero and role model, you had a big heart and you gave that same strength and courage you had. I am going to miss her asking me what time my shifts are, I am also going to miss her smile and her glow in her eyes. She will always be remembered for her love, respect, joy, generosity and happiness she brought with her wherever she was. She helped shape who I am today and with that I say thank you. You will always be loved and you will continue to be with us forever. Say hello to Pepère for me. You will be missed. Je t’aime beaucoup Memère.

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