CLAUDETTE (CLO) LAVACK

Condolences & Memories (45 entries)

• There were only three occasions in my life that I spent time with Clo. The first was for six days on an ocean liner sailing from England to Canada in 1958, which was when I first met her. The second time was in the summer of 1959 when I visited Clo in Winnipeg and worked there for 3 months so that we could spend some extremely valuable time together. The last occasion was in 1965 when she visited and stayed with me and my family in England, spending much of her time playing with and cuddling my five-month-old daughter – Caryn. Over the many years, there were the occasional ‘phone calls, usually when one of us was going through a particularly difficult time in our life, and needed the support and understanding that we were always able to rely upon to give to and receive from each other. Then there was the correspondence; Birthday Cards, Christmas Cards and letters; handwritten or typed at first, but then when the Internet started, we corresponded mainly by e-mail. During the 54 years that I knew the wonderful Clo, I discovered what a generous, caring and loving person she was. No sacrifice was too much for her, and she always put the interests of other people before her own. Many adjectives can and have been used to describe Clo, far too many to list here, but not one of them has ever been uncomplimentary towards her; fitting for one who seems to me to be the epitome of an angel on earth. Of course, I will miss her; her laughter and beautiful smiling face, her cheerful tinkling but throaty voice and the newsy but personal letters that she used to write to me. The sadness in my heart is tempered by the joy and privilege of having known her and bathed in the presence of someone who, although she had her share of sadness in life, always managed to bounce back and become again the Clo whom I shall remember forever. - Posted by: Brian Ellis (Clo était une amie très chère et toujours proche de mon coeur.) on: Oct 14, 2012

• I didn't see my Auntie Clo much at all, I was just happy to receive the Christmas cards she sent us, and emails just to say hi. I will truly miss her (guess she is just catching up with her mom, and my mom(her sister) in heaven). To the classiest Auntie I know, you will be greatly missed, I love you. - Posted by: Tina Turin (Niece) on: Aug 30, 2012

• Yeah Clo, I'll miss our shared birthday lunches, running into you at Extra Foods, our casino runs and our reminiscing about Louise. I can see you now with your Mom and Louise in a race to see who can finish the crossword first! Luv ya! Ti - Posted by: Dolores (Titi) (Longtime friend) on: Aug 19, 2012

• Growing up, we didn't get to see Auntie Clo very often, just for large family gatherings. Later on, though we didn't talk on the phone much, she was always tech savvy and sent me a Christmas email every year finding out about how my family was doing. My mom always spoke fondly of Auntie Clo. We will miss her very much! - Posted by: Kelly Hess (niece) on: Aug 18, 2012

• Although I never met Chloe in person either but just as a cyber friend on Sp.. she was very supportive to me when my husband was so very ill but through it all he came well again and we give praise to her for her consistant love and care and emails... I`ll always remember her love for each and every member on the forum.. every one who ever knew or came in contact with her, loved her as a sister, friend, Chloe will never be forgotten, because those we love remain with us for love itself lives on, cherished memories never fade because a loved one's gone. Those we love can never be more than a thought apart, for as long as there is memory, they'll live on in the heart. It will be the little things that you will remember, the quiet moments, the smiles, the laughter. And although it may seem hard right now, it will be the memories of these little things that help to push away the pain and bring the smiles back again. With Loving Memories dear Chloe.. you will always live in my heart... thank you for your friendship and love, tara Chloe.. we will meet again somewhere some sunny day.. - Posted by: Lorraine Beard. (SP friend Rainee from Australia..) on: Aug 17, 2012

• I was privileged to call Claudette my friend for over thirty years. Strangely, it was only when I knew I was losing her that I realized she was my "best" friend....the "go-to girl" in any time of trouble or need. I will miss the birthday/Christmas/New Year lunches, the shopping trips, the long chats over a glass of wine. She had a strong mind and a heart of gold, but it was in her last weeks that her selflessness and strength of character really came to the fore. She was an inspiration. Bon voyage, ma chere. - Posted by: Joan Shaw (friend) on: Aug 13, 2012

• Dear Clo, I am sorry to have stolen your sister from you when we moved away from Winnipeg. However she was able to be with you when you wanted her most. I never got much opportunity to get to know you, but as I did I was usually impressed with what I heard. I had never met anyone like her, and I can say easily that I hope I do again. - Posted by: Richard (Brother-in-law) on: Aug 13, 2012

• My Aunt and God-Mother was a very special lady. I loved her dearly and will always remember her beautiful face and warm heart. I will always think of her when sipping tea from the wonderful tea set she shared with me in recent weeks. Bless. - Posted by: Sandra Lavack Bettens (God-daughter) on: Aug 13, 2012

• Claudette I am saddened to hear you are gone. I have known her for about 18 years. Through this time she has taught me how as family we build and grow through the years. I have been her hairstylist, but she has been so much more to me. I enjoyed all our time spent together through the years. She was there for me when my mom passed and always was supportive. Over the past 6 years she has come into my home and enjoyed my dog Oreo seeing my children and chatting with my husband. I will miss her stories about family friends far and near. How she was content with just being on her own and enjoying a book. She would laugh and tell me how winter driving made her a NERVOUS NELLY so if I didn't see her until spring to save a place for her. We laughed and enjoyed many conversations so to my nervous Nelly I will always keep a special place in my heart for you. May you rest in peace you said you did not sleep well may you rest now. To your family my sincere condolences! Adele and family. - Posted by: Adele (Friend/hairstylist) on: Aug 12, 2012

• I, like many of her cyber-pals knew Claudette as "Chloe". We never met in person or spoke on the phone but I considered her a dear friend never-the-less. Chloe was like the big sister I never had. Very smart, very wise, always very kind and caring. I often asked her for advice about stuff and she always took the time to answer, no matter how busy I know she was, just being there for all her other friends. I'll especially miss seeing the familiar "Chloe Here" in my inbox that always made my day a little brighter. She was a beautiful lady, inside and out. I feel privileged to have known her and I'll treasure my memories of our friendship until my time is done. Bye Chloe. "C-ya later". Your friend, "TJ" - Posted by: TJ (Cyber-friend) on: Aug 12, 2012

• I'd like to send a huge thanks to everyone who has shared special stories & memories about Clo. It has truly touched my heart to hear about the positive impact she had on so many people’s lives. Clo was always a loving, supportive, & important presence in my life. Being a history enthusiast I was always proud that Clo had worked for former premier Duff Roblin. She also had a very impressive knowledge base of the Lavack family genealogy. I also appreciated and admired Clo's love for reading (I can recall countless times being her chauffeur to the library when inclement weather had made her weary of driving)... And you could always count on getting a box of "Turtles" from her for Christmas every year...that was a given! haha Love You Auntie Clo...You Are Missed - Posted by: Jo Lavack (Nephew) on: Aug 12, 2012

• Never met you Claudia, only chatted on the phone-thank you for your friendship if only on the internet -wish I had got to know you better. God Bless. - Posted by: Louise (An internet friend) on: Aug 12, 2012

• Auntie Clo - I remember the sound of your laughter, and it makes me smile as I think of it. One of my earliest gifts was from you - a simple gold cursive "D". I kept that brooch for many years. You were the older sister,the first one to fly the coop and head out of Winnipeg. We all thought you were so daring and adventurous, heading to a far-off city, marrying, living a life apart from the cocoon of family. You had a successful career that made us proud of you. And your life impressed upon my young mind that these were the some of the earmarks of success - career, travel, prosperity. And through your example I have tried to mimic your successes in my own life. I'll always hold dear those early memories of the laughter - and plenty of sarcasm! - from our big family. Ma cher tante, I wish you could have come and spent some time with us in California, away from the cold winter winds of Winnipeg. And now you've been set free to travel wherever your heart desires. Much love, your niece, Deborah - Posted by: Debra Champagne () on: Aug 12, 2012

• Chloe has been a wise,selfless,generous friend for many years. I enjoyed our phone conversations and messages so very much. The messages were always entitled 'Just Me'...but there was no 'just me' about her. She was a unique, very special person, one of a kind, and will be missed so very much. Rest in peace, my dear friend. - Posted by: Helen Peel (Snow) of SPG ( Internet friend) on: Aug 12, 2012

• I met Cloe in Winnipeg when I arrived for my training at Stephenson RCAF station aged 18. We remained friends until her passing and I am sure it will not end now. Cloe stayed with my family in London England during her first visit and for most of that troubled year. Over the following period we remained in touch with cards and letters and latterly with weekly emails. We met again when she came to England 4years ago and stayed with me at the beginning and the end of her visit. During all this time she was a source of love and affection coupled with wit wisdom and kindness. The latter most important in times of trouble. I will miss her terribly and she leaves a great gap in my heart. I fully believe her when in her last email, knowing what was to happen, she told me that she would 'always be looking out for me and if I needed her,just to call' Goodbye for now Cloe,stay chuffed,see you sometime.. Love Keith...xx - Posted by: Keith Kenney (Friend for 58 years.) on: Aug 12, 2012

• My Deepest Sympathy - Posted by: Dusty Tartachny (Friend on Senior Playground) on: Aug 12, 2012

• Tho we knew Chloe only on the web, we felt as if we'd been friends a long time. Our condolences to all her family and friends Rest in peace. hawkeye - Posted by: Don & Bea (web forums) on: Aug 12, 2012

• "Hi Cuz" this was Claudette's greeting for me after she had discovered some remote link between our two families. There are so many stories from the Roblin Years (which she called Camelot) to the Montreal years but through out no matter how long the hiatus in calls or chats, we were true friends because we could pick up exactly where we left off. Claudette wanted us to do something we especially liked to remember her - well I'll go to Louise Penny's book launch next week and I might ask Louise to autograph the book in Claudette's memory - Posted by: Rémi Lafrenière (friend) on: Aug 12, 2012

• Clo and I first dated when I was training with the RCAF at Stevenson Field in 1952. We renewed the friendship when she tracked me down thru the internet some fifty plus years later. We met up at Montreal for a vacation in New England and later another one in the UK. Since then we have kept in regular touch exchanging memories of our teenage years and 'senior' times together. I shall miss that so much. We even shared the same birthday. A well read, well travelled and lovely intelligent lady who rightly had so many friends. A bientot Clo. - Posted by: Colin Gower .Yorkshire, England (Special since teenagers in 1952) on: Aug 12, 2012

• I have suffered many ills, in those times Chloe gave me hope and hugs. I never met her in person, but I felt her warm and loving personality. New Orleans, La. - Posted by: Dolores Jaycox aka as ARTMAMA (Cyber friend for many years) on: Aug 11, 2012

• Sincere condolences to Chloe's brothers and sisters and families. Though I never met Chloe in person, I did speak with her on the phone and she was so kind to everyone. She will be sadly missed. Rest in Peace dear Chloe. - Posted by: Gene (Daisy) S. (Internet friend) on: Aug 11, 2012

• My sincere sympathy to all of Clo's family in the loss of their sister and my friend. I consider myself fortunate indeed that Claudette was one of the first people I met when I came to Winnipeg over 50 years ago, and we have been dear friends ever since. We shared an apartment for a number of years before I was married, and Clo was my maid of honour. Our friendship survived the years, and she will be sadly missed, not only by me, but by my husband Jim (Jamie to Clo!). We respected her integrity, straightforwardness, and her dignity - to the end. God bless you, Clo. - Posted by: Margaret Jeffries (Friend) on: Aug 11, 2012

• Claudia always had positive responses and words of kindness on our cyber friend site. Thanbk you for posting this lovely picture; it shows such a caring gaze and I hope her family looks at it and sees the love she has for them. - Posted by: Paula Anderson (Internet friend) on: Aug 11, 2012

• The short time I've know her online she was always a sweet person. Maybe we will meet in Heaven some day. - Posted by: Kayce (internet friend from Rounders ) on: Aug 11, 2012

• Claudia was a friend whom I'll remember as being a "true" person. Never did I read where she belittled anyone. She will has been and will always be missed at our little place in "cyber world" called the internet. Rest now and be at peace. - Posted by: Jostoy (Internet friend ( Round Table)) on: Aug 11, 2012

• Claudette influenzed me to broaden out my reading material with her suggestions of books. other times she made me realize life is not how i perceive it, that i am not the center of universe. a very humbling experience. i have missed her greatly . - Posted by: Guntis Klavins (we were members of a couple of senior forums .) on: Aug 11, 2012

• Chloe will be remembered by her many cyber friends as someone who was always first to remember their birthdays and those lovely graphic cards she did for each one of them, ( very clever lady ) and for the kind words she sent in times of trouble for others, for her sense of humor, her lack of self pity. Myself I will remember that she got me started on finding graphics and using them(but no where near as good as her)and I will remember the on line and phone chats we had,we talked about the English places we both knew,and had a lot of laughs. Thanks Chloe. - Posted by: Brenda (Friend) on: Aug 11, 2012

• I will miss Chloe so very, very much.. She was a long time forum friend, and we had met on several occasions as I passed through Winnipeg on bus to Banff, and later, to Vancouver.. Chloe would bring me goody bags to the station, and we would have coffee and chat while I waited for next bus. When station moved out of town, to Airport, I would call Chloe and we would have phone chats while I waited as it was just too far for her to drive to for an hr ,chat. Stayed with her in Winnipeg couple of times and she stayed at my home in Montreal while on way to England. I will always think of Chloe when I pass through Winnipeg, and Winnipeg will now hold a great sadness for me each time I pass thrugh. AND ,, will never forget her great kindnes in bringing me. "goody bags" to snack on during my trip. AND. Chloe truely thought I was nuts taking the bus.. I love you Chloe and will miss you terribly.. - Posted by: Cathy Stone.. (Forum friend for many years as well. as Personal , having met Chloe friend.) on: Aug 11, 2012

• Chloe and I had a Friday ritual where we'd e-mail a few words...usually droll humor. This went on month after month, Words cannot express my feelings that this contact will not continue. My heart goes out to her family. Chloe was a real gem among the others. - Posted by: John Webster (On line pal.) on: Aug 11, 2012

• Claudette was a big sister with a heart of gold. She was smart as a whip, meticulous in detail, efficient and dependable with a work ethic beyond compare. She was a strong woman, strong of opinion, strong in her sense of justice and strong in her sense of humour. Claudette was a voracious reader, well-known at the St. Boniface Public Library for the mountain of books that she reserved online and gobbled up at home. She was an early morning riser who enjoyed nothing better than to wake up to fresh coffee and the Free Press's crossword puzzles and cryptoquote that awaited her sleuthing skills. We're bereft without her. Polly Lavack, White Rock, BC - Posted by: Paulette Lavack (sister) on: Aug 11, 2012

• If ever there was a kinder, sweeter person, I have not met them. 'Chloe' as we knew her went out of her to welcome me when I first joined the playground. She seemed to enjoy my stories about my dog Rascal and was the first one to refer to Rascal as a 'fur ball'. She helped me with many many computer things and became someone I truly enjoyed. Her passing is a tremendous loss for all of us at the playground. To her family, you have my deepest sympathy and weren't you lucky to have had her in your life like all of us who knew her were. God bless you Chloe. - Posted by: Rusty (Internet Friend) on: Aug 11, 2012

• Clo was a very kind and thoughtful person. Her courage and strength of character, especially during her illness, were an inspiration to all of us. We will miss her. - Posted by: Alex and Barb (Brother) on: Aug 11, 2012

• Truly a wonderful person. we will remember Claudette as kind and caring, always willing to help. - Posted by: Maurice and Yolande Manaigre (our good tenant of many years) on: Aug 11, 2012

• I sensed Chloe as an extreme, special person when I first "met" her on the internet and for some reason felt I could share the second re-marraige to my husband with her before I could anyone else. I don't know why...something really clicked and she was immediately loved and respected. Perhaps a 6th sense. My tribute to her will be to try to take better care of myself and to keep "trying" to keep a more upbeat attitude no matter what. I love to garden and take care of my little flock of pets and dabble in art even though tremors stop most of that hobby now. Claudia did her art work on the internet so well..maybe I could learn as a tribute to her. I could try. - Posted by: Ruthy Strassmaier (internet friend) on: Aug 11, 2012

• My condolences to all of Claudette's family and friends. - Posted by: Irma Fraser (Delaquis) (cousin) on: Aug 11, 2012

• I remember a special day with Auntie Clo when I was a little girl. We watched the Canada Day parade from the windows of her office at the Manitoba Legislative Building. Many years later when I was in my 20s and we were both living in Osborne Village, we would get together for lunch now and then. She will be sadly missed. - Posted by: Anne Lavack (Niece) on: Aug 11, 2012

• Although I have never met Chloe personally, we have all lost a very dear and valued internet friend. Chloe showed nothing but kindness and love. She was a dear lady and I feel extremely privileged to have known her through "Senior's Playground" and "Virtual Seniors". She will be SOOOO sadly missed by the many of us who loved her. My love and my sympathy to all of Chloe's family and friends. - Posted by: Pat Colebourn (Londoner) on Senior's Playground Web Site (Friend) on: Aug 11, 2012

• We knew each other on the Internet only. I am going to miss her. She was always positive and brought sunshine in my life. It does not take much imagination to realize that her family will miss her as well. My sincere condolences. H - Posted by: Hank (Internet friend) on: Aug 11, 2012

• So it goes with the passing of family and/or friends--a piece of our heart. To cherish your memory is my priviledge and to have 'known' you-- an honour! RIP Dear Clo! - Posted by: Johnny (internet friend/pal/buddy) on: Aug 11, 2012

• Chloe, I can see you now chasing 'dust bunnies' from Heaven. You have been a wonderful cyber friend for many years. Aloha nui loa. dear friend--Aloha Oe Aloha, Nalani - Posted by: Nalani Morris (cyber friend) on: Aug 11, 2012

• Chloe & I never met in person, but she was one of the best friends I've ever known. I will so miss her cheery disposition, her kind words, her love of books & her enormous compassion for all who were lucky enough to have known her. My sincere condolences to her family & extended friends. She will be so missed. - Posted by: Beverly Davis (internet friend) on: Aug 11, 2012

• True friend. Although I never met Clo in person she was a devoted member of Senior Playground group on Internet. I feel I have known her for many years. She was there long distance when I needed someone to e-mail with problems. Will miss her greatly. - Posted by: Tom Marcinko (dk) (Friend on SPG board) on: Aug 11, 2012

• I only knew clo as an internet friend but to me she was as close as any friend could be. Her positive attitude about her life is an inspiration to all. I will greatly miss her postings. Farewell good friend. - Posted by: Ross Mullen (Friend) on: Aug 11, 2012

• A true and dear friend has left us today. My family is truly sad at this news. She was a dear friend to many on the forum as well. Rest in peace dear friend. - Posted by: Wesley Good (Mickey of Canada) (Friend) on: Aug 11, 2012

• When the warmth of the sun touches my face, I see your smile and feel your embrace. I hear the whisper of love in the wind And I know that you are close to me again The rain speaks of tears and the thunder of pain, But soon the sun comes the earth to reclaim. As the days come and go and the world moves on, I know you're still here, you'll never be gone. On the night the Angel came and took your hand, We cried as you left for an unknown land. But Heaven rejoiced as you came into sight, For your soul was a diamond, shining so bright! - Posted by: Leo H. Trudeau (Freind) on: Aug 11, 2012