RAYMONDE (RAY) ANGELE MASSON (nee LALOYAUX)

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RAYMONDE (RAY) ANGELE MASSON (nee LALOYAUX) Raymonde (Ray) Angele Masson, nee Laloyaux, passed away November 24, 2002 at the Souris Personal Care Home, Souris, MB. Ray was born March 6, 1911 in Franiere, Belgium, the third child of Gaston and Lea (Boudru) Laloyaux. The family immigrated to Canada, Oak Lake, MB in 1913. Raymond attended Hesselwood School, in the Deleau/Oak Lake area, and a school in the Scarth, MB area for some years before leaving to work with her parents in all duties of farm and home life in the Scarth area. Ray continued the farming way of life in the Deleau/Oak Lake area following her marriage in 1934 to Amedee Masson (d. 1982). Ray and Amedee raised five children, Marie Louise (d. 1994), Pete, Rita, Janine and Roger. Ray was predeceased by husband Amedee in 1982; daughter Marie Louise Gregoire in 1994; son-in-law Allan Gregoire in 1997; sister Renee Gabrielle in 1998; brother Ray in 2001 and good friend Jim Hellyer in 2002. Ray is survived by son Pete (Marion) daughter Rita (Ed) Slywchuk; daughter Janine (John) Pennington; son Roger (Janet Green) 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Mixed farm life was hard, and Ray worked well at all aspects of it. In addition to being a good "outside" farm worker, Ray was a good cook, baker, sewer, knitter, crocheter and gardener. She enjoyed sharing meals with family and friends, listening to old time music, playing the piano, singing, dancing, and playing cards and board games. Ray was a practical person with a good sense of humour, who took an interest in the lives and pursuits of those she met, young and old. She enjoyed learning, and over the years took such classes as first-aid, ceramics, bible study and dress design. Ray was a school trustee for Hesselwood School from 1944 to 1966, and also boarded many of the Hesselwood teachers, as the farm was only one mile from the school. She and Amedee cared for foster children from 1961 to 1969. After retiring from farming Ray worked at Victoria Park Lodge, Souris, from June 1965 to June 1977. She and Amedee moved to Souris in May 1970, where she had bought a house, of which she was so very proud. From 1971 to 1998, Ray enjoyed a fair bit of traveling, to visit family in France, and to sight-see in Holland and Germany; to the Eastern Maritime provinces; to Central, and to Southwest U.S.A., and during the 1990s, to visit Jim Hellyer in Kelowna, BC. Over the years. Ray was a member of the South Country Ladies, St. Marys Catholic Church Ladies, Souris Drop-in Centre and the Rebekahs. Thank you from Rays family to her neighbours, friends, the staff of the former Victoria Park Lodge, the staff of the Souris Personal Care Home, Dr. Cram and the on-call doctors for their care and support. In lieu of flowers, may we suggest a donation to your favourite charity, if you so desire. Pallbearers are Rays granddaughters, Margaret White, Brenda Manning, Cathy Finch, Connie Christopher, Patty Slywchuk and Michelle Masson. Prayer service was held at St. Marys Catholic Church, Souris, Wednesday, November 27 at 7:30 p.m. Funeral service was held at St. Marys, Thursday, November 28 at 11:00 a.m. Interment was in the Oak Lake Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. Funeral arrangements entrusted, with thanks and appreciation to the care of Kowalchuks Funeral Home, Souris.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 01, 2002