CONSTANCE TOUGAS (NOEL)

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CONSTANCE TOUGAS (nee NOEL) Paisiblement, le 18 fevrier, 2002, Constance Tougas est decedee a lage de 71 ans a lhopital de Ste-Anne. Elle laisse dans le deuil six enfants, Nicole (Roy Hackl), Janine, Joanne (Glenn Mourant), Martial (Liliane Prairie), Daniel (Mani), Elaine; six petits-enfants cheris, Stephane, Patrick et Jim Mourant, Gabriel Tougas, Janelle et Adam Tougas; deux soeurs, Stella Guenette (Armand), Solange Arcand (Raymond, decede en 2001) et un frere Maurice Noel (Claire). Elle laisse aussi beaucoup de belles-soeurs, de beaux-freres, de cousins, de cousines et damis. Sa soeur Lorette Gawryluk (Alex) est decedee en 1984. Jos, lepoux bien-aime de Constance, est decede le 16 fevrier 1999. Enthousiaste et debrouillarde, Constance a eu a coeur lepanouissement de sa communaute et de sa paroisse toute sa vie. Sa plus grande fierte a ete de fonder la chorale de leglise de Ste-Anne en 1967. Toutes les annees que son epoux, Jos, a devoue aux roles de conseiller, syndic, maire, homme daffaire nauraient jamais ete si fructueuses sans lappui essentiel de Constance. Ce couple aurait pu inventer le dicton: "Derriere tout grand homme, il y a une grande femme." Gregaire, souriante, au rire facile, Constance avait cette capacite (qui lui venait de son pere, Jean Noel) de prendre contact avec les gens, de les approcher, de leur parler et de les mettre a laise. Sa grande sensibilite la motivait a sassurer que chacun se sente inclu a linterieur dun groupe. Constance admirait enormement les professions dinfirmiere et dactrice. Elle a su transmettre ses deux passions a ses enfants - deux dentre eux sont dans le domaine de la sante et les quatre autres dans le domaine des arts. Lectrice vorace et ecrivaine a ses heures, Constance a trouve tres difficile dans ses dernieres annees de ne plus pouvoir lire a son gout, a cause de la faiblesse de ses yeux. Malgre les apparences negatives, cette condition cachait un bien. Ca a permis a cette femme courageuse dexplorer plus profondement son monde interieur. Elle disait souvent, "Je me demande quelle lecon jai a apprendre de ceci!" Constance a souvent affirme, "Ce qui a assure en grande partie le succes de mon mariage avec Jos, cetait quon savait rire ensemble!" Cest cette caracteristique quelle partageait genereusement partout ou elle allait et quelle appreciait tellement au sein de sa famille et avec ses amis. Le reve secret de Constance etait detre une grande chanteuse. Maman, du reve, tu es passee a la realite...car, maintenant, tu chantes comme lange que tu es! Nos sinceres remerciements au personnel de lhopital de Ste-Anne. Nous aimerions aussi exprimer notre reconnaissance aux docteurs Duval et Bissonnette. La messe des funerailles sera celebree par labbe Rene Chartier en leglise catholique de Ste-Anne, le samedi 23 fevrier a compter de 10h. Le service ce termine a leglise. Linhumation des cendres aura lieu a une date ulterieure. Au lieu de fleurs, s.v.p. envoyez vos dons au Canadian Diabetes Association, 102 - 310 Broadway, Winnipeg, R3C 0S6. La direction des funerailles de Mme. Constance Tougas fut confiee au salon mortuaire LeClaire Brothers. 775-2220. CONSTANCE TOUGAS (nee NOEL) On February 18, 2002, Constance Tougas died peacefully at the age of 71, at Ste-Anne Hospital. She leaves six children, Nicole (Roy Hackl), Janine, Joanne (Glenn Mourant), Martial (Liliane Prairie), Daniel (Mani), Elaine; six cherished grandchildren, Stephane, Patrick and Jim Mourant, Gabriel Tougas, Janelle and Adam Tougas; two sisters, Stella Guenette (Armand), Solange Arcand (Raymond, d. 2001) and a brother Maurice Noel (Claire). She also leaves many sisters and brothers-in-law, cousins and friends. Her sister Lorette Gawryluk (Alex) died in 1984. Constances beloved husband, Jos, passed away on February 16, 1999. Enthusiastic and resourceful, Constances community concern and spirit led her to active service throughout her life. She considered her greatest achievement as a volunteer to be the founding of the Ste. Anne Church choir in 1967. Her husband, Jos, devoted many years in Ste. Anne as town councillor, church trustee, mayor and businessman. These years proved to be very fruitful ones through Constances invaluable support. This couple could have invented the saying, "Behind every great man, there is a great woman." Gregarious, smiling, with a contagious laugh, Constance had the ability (which she inherited from her father Jean Noel) to connect with people, to approach them, to speak with them and to make them feel at ease. Her great sensitivity motivated her to make sure that everyone in a group felt included. Constance most admired the nursing and acting professions. She was able to communicate these passions to her children - two are in health care and four are in the arts. Voracious reader and sometimes writer, Constance found it very difficult in her last years to have to curtail her reading because of weak eyes. This condition was a blessing in disguise in that it allowed her to attain a greater spiritual peace. She would often say, "I wonder what Im supposed to be learning from this!" Constance often affirmed, "We owe the success of our marriage, Jos and I, to the fact that we know how to laugh together!" She generously shared this trait with everyone she met and appreciated it greatly in her family and friends. Constances secret dream was to be a great singer. Maman, you have gone from fantasy to reality. Now youre singing like the angel you are! Our sincerest thanks to everyone at Ste-Anne Hospital. A special note of gratitude goes to Drs. Duval and Bissonnette. Funeral mass will be celebrated at the Ste. Anne Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, February 23 at 10:00 a.m. with Fr. Rene Chartier presiding. Service will terminate at the church. Interment of her cremated remains will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Canadian Diabetes Association. 102 - 310 Broadway, Winnipeg, R3C 0S6. LECLAIRE BROTHERS in care of arrangements. 775-2220.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 21, 2002