The indomitable, kind and fiercely intelligent Dr. Claudette Durand died on January 6, 2019, at the age of 83 years.
Claudette was a light in the world, always curious. She shared her knowledge freely with those lucky enough to be welcomed into her home. She thrived on intellectual discourse.
A true renaissance woman, Clau spoke four languages, was a golfer and fencer (really!), and was passionate about music, literature, art, cinema, sports…and celebrity gossip.
Born in Haiti in 1935, daughter of Dr. Jean-Baptiste Durand and Claire Dieudonné, Claudette went to Spain where she graduated from the University of Madrid as a psychiatrist in 1965. She then moved to Canada to work at a psychiatric hospital in Campbellton, New Brunswick. As a proud new Maritimer, she completed a residency in psychiatry at Dalhousie University in Halifax. She then accepted a position as a director of an inpatient unit at the Royal Ottawa Hospital, where she worked until her retirement.
Her years in Ottawa brought professional success and a rich network of friends, who became her family in Canada. Throughout her life she befriended many young people, treating them as her own. She always had time and energy for those she cared about, who will all miss her stories, humour, and sage advice.
She enriched many lives. She had strong ties in Haïti and Spain, and also had lifelong friends and family in France, Germany, Sweden, Columbia, and the U.S.
She is predeceased by her parents, sisters Marie-Claire and Alice, and brothers Pierre, Jean-Marie, and Serge. Claudette will be dearly missed by many who loved her, including her sister Michelle, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and her four god children. She will be sadly missed by the Durand, Walker, Wilding, Doherty, Saint-Lot, Péan, Dietz, Hermann, Tolon and Mangerel families. The family of Dr. George and Freda Fraser were especially fortunate to have Claudette as part of their family.
Thank you to those who gave her such loving care over the years, especially Maria Mesquita Da Silva, and Mary and Zebedee Angweni.
A special thank you to Dr. Erika Tanner, her family doctor, who said Claudette was her patient but more than that, a person whom she cared about deeply.
Claudette was a strong advocate for literature, education, and community. In her memory, donations can be made to the Fondation Oswald Durand, which is being set up to build a children’s library in her father’s birth place, Cap-Haïtien in Haïti. Cheques can be made out to her cousin Marie-José Péan, with the subject line ‘Fondation Oswald Durand.’ Envelopes will be available at the funeral service or can be mailed to Marie José Péan, (19, Bayside Private, Ottawa, K1V 9R3). Please phone Freda Fraser 613-521-1948 if you have a problem with donations.
Come celebrate with us the life of this amazing friend, raconteur and doctor at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home and Chapel 1411 Hunt Club Road (at Albion Road) on Saturday, January 26, 2019 after 10 a.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 11 am in the Chapel.
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