died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of October 11, 2018. She was 88 years old. Born on August 29, 1930 in Montreal, Canada to Hector Letourneau and Marie Rose Letourneau (Bergeron), Lucie was the third youngest of seven children. She completed primary studies and entered the work force during her teens. Her "Joie de Vivre" was rooted in socializing with people-telling stories and jokes, playing games, and traveling. One of the highlights of her youth was going on a cross-country train trip to the Canadian Rockies.
September 1960 was a transformational time for Lucie, she married the love of her life, Joseph Marcel Mathurin, and moved to Tampa, Florida, to begin their life together. The move challenged her in many ways, the biggest being that she only spoke French. But through shopping, using public transportation, going to mass, and watching her favorite TV show (of course it was "I Love Lucy"), she learned to speak English. She made it a point to stay connected to family and friends in Canada by writing letters, calling on the phone, and making summer trips to Montreal.
A devout Catholic and longtime parishioner at St. Lawrence, she was one of the "go to" people when it came to helping with whatever the church needed. She volunteered countless hours making baptismal bibs, visiting the elderly as a Eucharistic Minister, creating costumes for the living stations of the cross, mending vestments, staffing the Sunday morning coffee counter, selling carnival ride tickets, and so many other things.She may have been best known for her talent at making all kinds of hand-made crafts items. Whether it was crocheting afghans and bedspreads, bringing needlepoint canvases to life, or making Christmas stockings, she was always working on a project. Her creations regularly earned first-place ribbons at the Florida State Fair. Her early work in the Ladies Guild allowed her to share her passion for crafts by organizing many church Bazaars to raise money in support of the parish. In her later years she started the Stitchers in Service group which focused on making craft items that could also serve a need like lap-blankets for migrant workers and placemats for shut-ins. Her humbleness and generosity touched the lives of many and she strived to live as a servant of the Lord. She helped others by driving neighbors to the store and to appointments, mending and tailoring clothes for friends, visiting with residents of nursing homes and shut-ins, and donating to many charitable organizations.
Lucie is survived by her daughter, Nicole O'Connell (Sean); son, Andre Mathurin; stepdaughter, Danielle Mathurin; grandchildren, Helen O'Connell and Grace O'Connell; and brothers, Guy Letourneau and Pierre Letourneau. She is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Marcel Mathurin and son, Pierre Mathurin.
A funeral mass celebrating Lucie's life will be held at 11 am, November 8, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, please remember her by contributing to a charitable organization of your choice.
Arrangements under the direction of:
Blount & Curry, Terrace Oaks Funeral Home and Crematory
12690 N 56th St | Temple Terrace, FL 33617 | (813) 988-9200
Blount & Curry, Terrace Oaks Funeral Home and Crematory
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