ANITA CORMIER (RIVARD)

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ANITA CORMIER (nee RIVARD) 1922 - 2019 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Anita Cormier, on Thursday, February 21, 2019, at the age of 96. Anita was predeceased by her husband, Aime, at age 67 (1984); her son, Robert, at age 41 (1995); her parents, Jean-Antoine (1987) and Antoinette Rivard (1993), brothers, Rene (2002) and Armand (2012). Mom loved her family and friends. She will be forever missed by her daughters, Patricia (Paul Cloutier) and JoAnne (Jill Fraser); her grandchildren, Leeane Cloutier (Tom Cotter), Kelowna; Nicole (Philip Barron); Patrick Cloutier, Winnipeg, and great-grandson Myles Cotter, Kelowna. Anita is also survived by her brothers, Paul Rivard (Simone), Winnipeg and Earl Stanley (Sandra), Wellington, ON; sister Juliette Champion, Hamilton, ON, and many nieces and nephews. Hairdresser from the age of 18, Anita's enterprising father helped her set up her first shop in Morris, MB in 1940. She met her husband, Aime, in La Salle where her parents owned a store. They married in 1946 and lived in La Salle. Their first child, Patricia, was born in 1948. In the early 1950s, Anita opened her second hairdressing shop in Winnipeg, where they lived while Aime commuted to La Salle to operate his Texaco service station. They returned to live in La Salle in 1954 when Robert was born, followed by their third child, JoAnne, born in 1959. In the early 1960s, Anita and her father bought a store and laundromat on Pembina Highway. Although a short business venture, the experience led to other opportunities, including a move to Windsor Park. Anita got a clerical job at the St. Boniface School of Nursing where she found a close knit group of people, a positive environment and a quiet retreat from the hectic routine at home. When our family moved back to La Salle, where Dad still operated his service station, Mom continued to work at the School of Nursing until she retired in 1987. Even after retiring, Anita continued to support and volunteer for years with the St. Boniface Research Foundation. Travelling is something Anita loved to do. Shortly after Aime passed away, she and close friends planned yearly trips exploring many parts of the world and collecting many memories. Our mother was wise, caring, and thoughtful. She valued kindness, generosity, hard work, and education. Anita loved to read and reread both fiction and nonfiction. She always said she got more out of it the second time. She especially liked to keep up with current and world affairs, ensuring that she read the daily paper, and faithfully watched evening TV news. Anita loved a good discussion on many topics, and attending English and French theatre, symphony, and many other cultural events. Dining and visiting with her family and friends; playing bridge, cribbage, and scrabble enriched her social life. She still loved to sing and dance, and had many interests over the years, including cooking, sewing, fashion, home décor, and cultural events. Most of all, Mom valued and loved family and friends and never dwelled in self pity and regrets. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 8 at Precious Blood Church, 200 Kenny St. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Arrangements in care of Desjardins Funeral Chapel.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 02, 2019