CLAUDETTE MARIE HITCHMAN (ARBEZ )

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CLAUDETTE MARIE HITCHMAN (nee ARBEZ ) March 5, 1946 - September 4, 2008 It is with great sadness the family announces the passing of Claudette in Riverview Hospital. She was predeceased by her mother Reine, her father Paul, sister Marie-Paule, brother Raymond and her father-in-law Robert (Bampa). Claudette will be sadly missed by her husband Paul; her daughter Christine Chmelowski, (husband Darren and children Aiden and Olivia), and her son Patrick. She will also be missed by her loving sisters, Marie-Reine Arbez of Winnipeg, Jeannine Tranq (Roland) of St. Claude, and Murielle Heald (Kevin) of Ottawa and brothers, Roger (Huguette) of Winnipeg, Leon (Odile) of Montreal and George (Edith) of Kenora, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Also left to mourn are her mother-in-law Vera (Nana), brother-in-law Tom (Lee Anne), all of Oakville, Ontario. We will all miss her happy personality. Claudette was born in Treherne and grew up on a farm close to St. Claude, Manitoba. She graduated from St. Boniface Hospital as a Registered Technician in 1966 and worked for two years at the Kenora Hospital. She and Paul were married in St. Georges Chapel in Fort Osborne Barracks in May of 1968 and moved to Moose Jaw. After working for a year at the Moose Jaw Hospital, they moved to Quebec City and then Montreal before returning to Winnipeg in 1978. She was the St. Boniface Welcome Wagon Hostess for a period of 15 years, delivered Meals on Wheels for over 10 years and was an active member of the Ste. Bernadette's CWL so she will be missed by a large group of friends. In keeping with Claudette's wishes, cremation has taken place and a funeral mass will be held at Ste. Bernadette's Catholic Church (820 Cottonwood Road) on Wednesday, September 10 at 1:30 p.m. with a private family interment to take place at Green Acres Cemetery at a later time. The family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses who cared for Claudette during her illness, especially those who assisted her through her final days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Claudette's name to the Lung Association of Manitoba so that the fight against Lung Cancer may continue to search for a cure for the cancer that kills more Canadians than any other cancer, including non smokers like Claudette.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 06, 2008