ALINE CECILE DEGUELDRE (COUSIN)

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ALINE CECILE DEGUELDRE (nee COUSIN) Aline DeGueldre of Marshall Bay in Fort Garry died peacefully on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at the St. Boniface Hospital. Remaining to forever cherish Aline's memory are her sisters Alice Lodwick of Treherne and Bertha Grift of Swan Lake as well as her sisters-in-law, Irene (Killarney), Victorine (Winnipeg), Josephine (Brandon) and Cecile (Swan Lake). She was predeceased by her husband Roger on Dec 12, 1985; parents, Jules Cousin and Zulma (nee Knockaert) of Swan Lake, MB; siblings and their spouses, Camille, (wives Eliza Devloo and Marie DeKezel), Marie, (Maurice Debreuil), Leon, Angele (Edwin Sanderson); brother-in-law Alvin Lodwick, Yvonne (Henri DeGueldre); brother-in-law Dave Grift, Andre, Henri and (infants) Robert, Marcel, Margaret and Martha. Aline was born March 26, 1922 at the Cousin farm north of Swan Lake, MB. She attained grade ten with the hope of becoming a nurse, a dream she gave up when her father's health began to decline. She helped him work the land for three years until Aug. 1941 when she married Roger DeGueldre. For a while they lived in Swan Lake and when Roger joined the army she lived at the family sawmill north of the Assiniboine River in present day Spruce Woods Park. When Roger returned from the army they moved back to Swan Lake until October 1949 when they moved to Fort Garry where they remained. Aline and Roger raised a family of five; Andre (Thelma Parker), Shirley (Art Lannoo), Lucille (Burt Kennedy), Roger (Eldeen Fellows and Denise Montpetit) and John (Louise Moreau) all surviving. Nursing degree or not, Aline became the best nurse a family could want. She was also an expert in preparing wild game including deer, rabbits, waterfowl and fish. Aline always had the largest garden in the neighbourhood and when she wasn't hauling water or melting snow for the wash she was hanging clothes on the outside line (winter and summer), baking bread, cooking, canning or scrubbing kids and floors along with many other labours so readily at hand. Eventually Aline and Roger built a new house and as the kids got older they began to enjoy weekends at Rush Bay, Ontario. After Roger's retirement Aline was recruited to paint sawmills and other constructions which they often displayed at local Fairs, including Austin Thresherman's Reunion. Throughout her life children found a safe harbour in Aline's care. Once her own brood was off the grandchildren and then the great grandchildren and even some others arrived to indulge in her wisdom and humour. She loved to make her guests, large and small their favourite dishes. She never had any hesitation to speak her mind to them and could tell fascinating stories of her experiences over the years. Aline had a fantastic memory. After her husband died, Aline began volunteering at her church where among other things she enjoyed countless hours tending flowers and frying up Sunday bacon eggs . At the age of eighty she learned to use a computer and kept in contact with a host of younger people including daughter Lucille in Mexico. At the age of 86, she suggested she would like to learn to read and write Flemish as well as speak it, a project she couldn't finish. Aline leaves her five children and their spouses, 13 grandchildren (Henri, Juanita, Lawrence, Cheryl, Tim, Mark, Karen, Katherine, Johnny, Rene, Lisa, Dan and Mark) and 14 great-grandchildren (Christine, Mykel, Eryka, Matthew, Ashley, Ryan, Emelia, Alexandra, Amanda, Shawn, Ryan, Garrett, Hannah, and little Rose. There are also a great number of nieces and nephews and extended family. Prayers will be held on Monday, January 5, at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Vital Roman Catholic Church, 1629 Pembina Highway. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 6, at 10:30 a.m. also in the Church, with Rev. Fr. Patrick A. Morand, presiding. Interment will follow in St. Vital Roman Catholic Parish Cemetery, 826 Crescent Drive. Honourary Pallbearers will be Messrs., Juanita DeGueldre, Lawrence Lannoo, Tim and Mark Kennedy, Karen DeGueldre, Katherine Featherstone and Lisa Bertrand. Pallbearers will be Messrs., Rene Bertrand, Henri, Johnny, Dan and Mark DeGueldre and Cheryl Lannoo. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice as you wish.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 28, 2008