CECILE MARIE EMILIE MARCOTTE (HAMONIC)

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CECILE MARIE EMILIE MARCOTTE (nee HAMONIC) After a lengthy illness our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Cécile Marcotte passed away on March 6, 2006, at Le Repos Jolys, St. Pierre Jolys. Cécile leaves to mourn and cherish her memory her husband Noël of 56 years, two daughters, Claudette and husband Ulysses of Notre Dame de Lourdes, Carmen and Pierre Desjardins of St. Rémi d'Amherst, QC and one son Martial of St. Boniface; six grandchildren, Janelle and Craig Collingridge of St. Claude, Justin of St. Vital, Samuel and Novam of St. Rémi d'Amherst, QC, Candice of Winnipeg, Christine and Adrian Denegar of Victoria, BC, and one great-granddaughter Brooke Collingridge of St. Claude. She is also survived by her sisters, Rolande, Thérèse (Léo) and Béatrice (Gaétan); and three brothers, Marcel (Janet), Edouard (Rolande) and Jean; sisters-in-law, Jacqueline Hamonic and Thérèse Hamonic, Irène Maynard, Juliette Forest, Thérèse Charrière, Germaine Benoit, Violette Marcotte, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Jean and Léontine Hamonic, her brothers, Robert, Léon and Eugène. Mom was born on July 23, 1927 in Assiniboia, SK. In 1933, the family moved to Dufrost, MB. At the age of 17 years old, she began her professional career teaching at the St. Isidore School and also graduated from the St. Boniface General Hospital School of Nursing in 1949. Starting in January 1950, she was the first nurse at the new hospital in St. Pierre Jolys and helped to set up and organize supplies for the first patients to be admitted. She worked for 40 years retiring in December 1990. With nursing as her lifelong passion, she touched many lives from birth to death. Mom was a true pioneer. In the early 1950s she would turn our home into baby and flu shot clinics. She would respond lovingly to all who called at any time for her advice and healing hands. Often fondly known as Docteur Marcotte the town erected a first aid station next door to store supplies she could use in her caring of the community. In her last year at the Repos Jolys, the nursing staff would affectionately have mom help them pass out medications. Cécile was a woman of many talents. Apart from her intellectual pursuits, and her enjoyment of crosswords, card games and reading, she was an outstanding artist. Her paintings won several prizes at art expositions. She also used her art to decorate one of a kind wedding and special event cakes. Her creativity was expressed throughout our home, with her gardening, decorating, cooking and sewing skills. Mom had a deep faith and believed in the power of prayer. In her last years she would wear her rosary around her neck all day to make sure she had not lost it and could pray at any moment. She had a special gift helping people find lost objects through the intercession of St. Antoine de Padoux. People from far away would call her and with her prayers they would eventually find what they were looking for. Her first love was her family. She touched our lives in such as special way and showed us how to love and care for others. She also believed in having fun and was able to laugh easily. Together mom and dad also loved to travel and especially when combined with family visits. After celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, they moved to the Chalet Malouin in 2000 amongst many friends. The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Le Repos Jolys for their excellent and compassionate care. In her memory and to honour her devotion to the nursing profession, the family is establishing a bursary fund to support bilingual nursing students. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Francofonds, 605 Rue Desmeurons, Pièce 202, St. Boniface, MB R2H 2R1. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, March 9 at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Malo Roman Catholic Church, with Rev. M. Chaput officiating. Prayers will begin at 1:30 p.m. She helped hundreds both in body and soul - such was her giving way. The Desjardins Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements, 233-4949 or toll free 1-888-233-4949.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 08, 2006