Eulogy - Page 4

I am not certain how to explain it but somehow she jumped through hoops within Life's challenging health cycles.

How she was able to withstand the “medical load” over the years is astounding. She was a true inspiring warrior battling chronic dorsal and body pain for the greater part of her life!
De toute la charge médicale qu'elle a pu entretenir au fil des années est étonnant...elle demeure une inspiration hors norme pour moi! 

I truly believe Gaby has all our backs (she wants to go with that, no pun intended) in some form or another to help each of us in her own way, when she's available ;) We might not exhibit/feel it right away...at some point in time, she'll be there to exercise her new responsibility as an angel.

In short, my Mommy was always willing to lend a hand to her close ones in need, and even new acquaintances in the Apartments. She would have given the shirt off her back (actually she gave kitty sweaters to some loved ones). She was a caring woman with a big heart. I will miss her greatly. 

En terminant, je dis bien au revoir Mom car j'espère qu'un jour on se reverra. Avec toutes les difficultés de la vie que tu as pu vaincre, et ton gros coeur que tu as pu mettre en évidence, tu as bien mérité ton ciel. J'ai eu beaucoup de chance d'avoir une mère comme toi. Tu demeureras dans mes pensées et dans mon coeur à vie sur Terre, tu fais partie de moi, de mon existence. Merci pour ta bonté!

Dear Mom, most certainly, above & all, you so deserve your peaceful rest! Say hello to Grams & Gordo for me! 
De toute évidence, tu as mérité de trouver la paix là en haut!...dis allô à Grand-Man et Gordo de ma part! 

Je t'aime et je t'aimerai toujours! Adieu Mom, je t'embrasse très fort!...ton fils.

*Gaby is an institutional Perley memory, despite her short tenure.

Thank you all for your presence, thank you Father Paul, 

Love you forever Mom!!!


Eulogy - Page 3

On more of a light note, some memorable anecdotes that come to mind:
-At times in Life when she was feeling excessive back pain, she’d call on her Dad (Léandre who passed away when she was 16 years young) to help her...but as she became exasperated at times: “he must be gone fishing again”...haha
--Quand elle subissait de forte douleur par moment, son papa s'apprêtait à pêcher le poisson. 

-Gaby loved cats & plants
--She rescued a stray cat from the engine of her car in Winter back in early 70s. We adopted & named her Pompom (“La Poune” as she used to refer to her). Pompom was knocked up when she saved her. My Mom had a kitty basket in her bedroom awaiting the birth of the kittens. She called me in one late night while sleeping to show me the litter of 7 kittens.

-Gaby was admitted to the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus in early 2017 after hurting her already-damaged spine.
--She was administered opioids to alleviate the pain. She told me she had a dream where she was a member of the Rockettes & performed upward leg swinging in the Eastview parking lot. She told me she was kind of undercover as the "mafia" boss was over-watching her do her stuff. LOL

Eulogy - page 2

Gaby & Gord had been living together for 37+ years. Their longest place of residential mainstay being at the Elmsmere apartments for ~22 years. She received loving and physical support from Gord of course, and in recent years from the PSWs (Personnal Support Worker) working at the LHIN (Local Health Integration Network). In January 2021, they moved to the Perley Health Centre. There also, she received loving and physical support from Perley’s own PSWs, with whom she formed a genuine amicable bond during her short 1-year stay. She courageously started to build her new life after Gordo's passing to keep busy; examples: taking care of plants in the hallway on her floor, going to physio 3X/week, going to church at the Perley on Sundays, playing bingo on Wednesdays, doing puzzles in the library/puzzle room on any day...she liked to do puzzles in the library room in company of residents. After her passing, Perley residents completed the demanding beautiful puzzle that Gaby had started, in recognition toward her. The Perley Apartment management advised they were going to put it up on the wall in the library/puzzle room, in her honour. In all, Gaby immersed herself into the Perley community activities creating a positive social movement.

Eulogy - Page 1

Thank you Father Paul & thank you all for being here. 
Merci a tous d'etre ici.

Dear family & friends,
Chers proches, chers ami(e)s,

Gathering for our last Earthly farewell to beloved Gaby who was a Wife, a Mother, a step-Mother, a step-sister (sis-in-law), a niece, a cousin, a friend, and complimentary to all, a woman with a kind compassionate heart.

Gaby endured physical mobility challenges since her devastating car accident in Montreal in 1975, leaving her with a broken/fragmented spine, and in hospital and rehabilitation for ~2 years. Through courage and determination {positive stubbornness;)} facing adversity, she was able to drive and walk again with crutches, canes, and walkers in successive years. She was wheelchair bound during these last ~8 years. 

Despite her physical handicap, Gaby devoted a sizeable part of her Life to take care of her closest ones, before & after her car accident. She moved from Montreal to Ottawa in 1984, essentially to help her Mother Liianne/Lily (a flower) in Life, whom herself had mobility challenges & vision deficiencies. Gaby provided a nurturing and comfortable home for me growing up as a kid in Montreal, complemented by supporting my leisure engagements. As an example, she’d drive me to hockey practices at 6-7am on week-end mornings, to the extent of coming in the dressing room and tying my skates (I was in Atom at age 7). Throughout my working Life, every time I moved residences, shed organize and do most of the packing [an example here highlighting her social consideration -> when I moved from Ottawa for a position in Montréal in 2006: she spic & spanned the apartment oven even after I told her that building management had plans to dispose of it after I moved…it didn’t faze her :)]. Most recently, she focussed most of her energy into the well-being of her loving partner Gordon throughout his cancer phase, right up until Gord's unfortunate passing in September 2021.  

Danny. My sympathies about your Mom. Gabs was always so kind to me.

Joe Fournier

Our last photo together wonderful memories. 

Gaby I will miss so much, you were a wonderful friend.

God speed.  Marie

Gaby I’m missing you so much I thought we still had more time to do sisterly things together.  I do cherish this past year that we all got to know each other as a loving family, supporting each other through very difficult times.  You are a true worrier woman, courageous, kind and loving.  Blessings and  peace on your journey to your soul mate, my kind and loving brother.
Danny thank your for  being such an amazing son just like your mom.  

OBITUARY

Gabrielle Poirier

July 11, 1944 – January 22, 2022

Racine, Robert & Gauthier Funeral Home

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