RAYMONDE DE PAPE (LABOSSIERE)

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RAYMONDE DE PAPE (nee LABOSSIERE) Raymonde De Pape, a resident of Actionmarguerite - St. Boniface, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 18, 2018, at the age of 88. She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved husband of 68 years, Joseph De Pape, four children and their partners, Denis and Marcelle De Pape, Bryan and Carmen De Pape (Ottawa), Charlene and Rick Kibbins, Vernon De Pape and Lynne Vrooman, and sister Renee. She was predeceased by her daughter Dolaine, and brothers Raynald, Armel and Marius. Mom was blessed with eight grandchildren: Blake, Noelle, Dale, Marianne (Ottawa), Patrick (Ottawa), Christian (Los Angeles), Jennifer, Brigette, and nine great-grandchildren. Raymonde was born October 16, 1929 in St. Leon, Manitoba, the third of Louis and Yvonne (Rondeau) Labossiere's five children. In 1946, at age 16, she graduated from teachers' college. In 1947 she met the love of her life, Joseph. They married in 1949 and lived on the De Pape family farm where their children were born. In 1958, they moved to Swan River, then Brandon, settling in Winnipeg in 1960. Raymonde was an extrovert who loved people. Her greatest joy and accomplishment was her family. The family loved to play cards together and enjoyed the many family gatherings in Winnipeg and in the country. In 1965, Raymonde and Joseph, along with her brother Raynald and his wife, Helene, bought a cottage at Lake 7 near Bruxelles, Manitoba. The family spent many enjoyable summers there together with Joseph's brother Mike and his wife Paula, who owned the cottage next door. A substitute teacher for St. Boniface School Division for many years, Mom always taught her children the importance of family, being a good friend, hard work, determination, arguing skills, and having fun. She placed great importance in her family's education. Mom loved to freely offer opinions on issues of the day, people and social norms. She was good at providing direction and giving instructions; in another generation she would surely have become a corporate chief executive officer. She experienced heart wrenching grief when her 26 year old daughter, Dolaine, died in a fire. In her later years, Raymonde survived cancer and lived with rheumatoid arthritis and other painful ailments. After more than 30 years in Windsor Park, Raymonde and Joseph moved to St. Peter and Paul Manor in 1995 followed by a move to Cathedrale Manor in 2008. Raymonde spent her last three years at the Actionmarguerite - St. Boniface Personal Care Home. She accepted this move with grace and dignity. In those later years, she looked forward to her frequent phone calls with her dear husband, Joseph, and was happy to see her grandchildren grow while welcoming her great-grandchildren. She continued to be interested in world activities and liked watching sports on TV, especially curling, the Winnipeg Jets and the Toronto Blue Jays. A special thank-you to the staff at Actionmarguerite - St. Boniface for taking wonderful care of Mom during her stay there. She enjoyed talking with many of the staff and volunteers and considered them to be her friends. We love you and miss you Mom and you will be with us always in our hearts and in our thoughts. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 31 at Cathedrale Manor, 321 Rue de la Cathedrale. Eulogies will begin at 10:10 a.m. followed by a Memorial Mass at 10:30 a.m. Reception and interment to follow.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 27, 2018