CARMEL MARIE RIESE (REGNIER)

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CARMEL MARIE RIESE
1933 - 2019

Carmel Marie Riese (née Régnier) passed away on December 19, 2019, aged 86.
She leaves behind her five remaining siblings; her children, Michael (Michelle), Nichole, Geralyn Riffel (Bob) and Marc (Susanne Failing); her grandchildren, Danielle, Melissa, Brett, Adam, James, Nikki, Vita and Johannes; and six great-grandchildren.
Carmel was born 1933 in St. François Xavier, the daughter of Germaine and Marc Régnier. She grew up in her loving French-Canadian farming family as the sixth of eight children: Thérèse Allard (Jules), Marie-Ange, Maurice (Patricia), Reine Picard (deceased, Bertrand), Rev. Father Gérard, Marguerite and Anne-Marie Monaghan (deceased, Stan). Life was hard growing up during the Depression. The family found succour in their faith. She attended at l'école Morgan, the typical one-room country school and then the two-room St. Francis Xavier High School. Carmel studied nursing at the Misericordia Hospital.
She met Karl Riese at a Catholic Youth dance which led to a long courtship. They married in 1956 and moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where Karl trained in surgery. Carmel worked and had their first children, Michael and Nichole. In 1959 they moved to Manhattan where Karl specialized in oncology. Geralyn was born and Carmel raised the three children in their small apartment. In 1961, they moved back to Winnipeg, where Marc was born.
Carmel ran the household and raised their four children with great love and good humour. Carmel and Karl were active members of St. John Brebeuf parish for over 40 years, where Carmel loved to meet her many friends and to sing in the choir. She volunteered with schools, the church, and other community activities. Summer vacations were spent at the family cottage on Lake Winnipeg. Once the children became independent, Carmel refreshed her nursing credentials and studied geriatrics in order to care for patients at Foyer Valade. Karl retired at the age of 71 because of illness, so they could only enjoy active retirement for a short time.
Carmel had a life rich in experiences, both good and difficult. She had a gigantic heart, full of love, devotion and humour with her family and friends. Carmel was an avid reader all her life and was changed by the women's movement. In their later years, she and Karl were active members of St. Timothy's parish. Carmel devoted herself to helping Karl as his health diminished, even as she struggled with her own health. She died four years after he did, always hoping to join him.
A celebration of Carmel's life will be held Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Timothy's Catholic Church, 135 John Forsyth Road, Winnipeg.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Osteoporosis Canada or CancerCare Manitoba.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 28, 2019