JOAN LORRAINE LAVOIE (KAMMERMAYER)

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JOAN LORRAINE LAVOIE (nee KAMMERMAYER) Apres une longue maladie, lepouse bien-aimee du Dr Clement Lavoie, Joan, mere de huit enfants, est decedee le mardi, 21 octobre, 2003. Elle laisse pour pleurer sa perte son epoux, le docteur Clement Lavoie de Saint-Boniface, Manitoba, et ses enfants Marc (Monique), Denis (Eileen), Richard (Mary Ellen), Lise, les jumeaux Michel et Marie-Therese, puis les jumeaux Pierre (Chantal) et Paul, et 13 petits-enfants: Anne-Marie, Jean-Yves, Andre, Michel, Patrick, Michelle, Chantal, Daniel, Christian, Janelle, Carinne, Nicolas et Jeric. Elle est survecue par sa chere mere, Frances Kammermayer, et ses freres et soeurs Doreen (Ben Bieber), Mildred (Bob Njegovan), Don (Breda), Lucille "Bunny" (Jim Paci), Ellen (Roger Lunman) et Jerry (Fran). Elle a ete precedee par son pere, John Kammermayer, en octobre de 1982. Joan est nee a Langenburg (Sask.) le 10 octobre 1931. Grandissant dans un petit village des Prairies, elle a joui dune vie active, pleine et heureuse. En 1950, elle a suivi sa soeur et meilleure amie Doreen a lEcole des infirmieres de lHopital General de Saint-Boniface. Infirmiere diplomee, elle a travaille dans le secteur de la maternite. Durant son apprentissage, elle a rencontre Clement Lavoie qui etait medecin interne. Le 2 juillet, 1955, ils se sont maries a leglise Holy Cross a Saint-Boniface. Apres la naissance de leur premier enfant presque un an plus tard, Joan est demeuree au foyer pour soccuper dune famille grandissante. En 1960, on a decouvert que Joan avait la sclerose en plaques. Au fil des annees, son etat sest deteriore au point detre confinee a une chaise roulante. Malgre ce handicap, Joan, qui possedait un grand sens dorganisation, a su equilibrer les besoins dune maisonnee mouvementee comprenant un mari, huit enfants et quelques animaux domestiques. Lamour maternel joint a un bon sens dhumour a su ensoleiller un foyer fecond dun penchant intellectuel. En 1978, sa sante setait deterioree au point ou sa famille et laide externe ne pouvaient plus lui donner les soins dont elle avait besoin. Elle est entree au Centre hospitalier Tache, pres du logis et de la famille qui lui etaient si chers. Pendant quelques annees elle a neanmoins joui des dimanches quelle passait avec sa famille. Joan sest beaucoup amusee (et a quelques fois subi) des espiegleries nombreuses de ses enfants. En octobre 1984, elle est tombee dans un coma qui a voile sa personnalite radieuse jusqua son deces. En depit des nombreuses difficultes creees par sa maladie, la vie de Joan fut une manifestation continuelle de courage ne dune foi religieuse profonde, un esprit determine, une force interieure emanant dun esprit et dun coeur maternels. Elle a offert sa souffrance pour le bien-etre de ceux et celles quelle aimait: un magnifique exemple de foi pour ses proches. La famille desire exprimer sa profonde gratitude pour tous les donneurs de soins a domicile et pour le personnel magnifique du Centre Hospitalier Tache pour les nombreuses annees de soins assidus donnes a Joan. Des prieres seront recitees le vendredi, 24 octobre a 19h00 au Salon mortuaire Desjardins, 357 rue Des Meurons et la messe des funerailles aura lieu le samedi 25 octobre a 10h00 en la Cathedrale de Saint-Boniface. Linhumation suivra pour la famille seulement. Ceux qui le desirent peuvent faire un don a la memoire de Joan a la Societe canadienne de la sclerose en plaques, (Division du Manitoba), 400 - 141 avenue Bannatyne, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0R3. JOAN LORRAINE LAVOIE (nee KAMMERMAYER) After a lengthy illness, Joan, beloved spouse of Dr. Clement Lavoie and mother of eight children, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, October 21, 2003. Her memory is cherished by her devoted husband, Clement of St. Boniface, MB and their children, Marc (Monique), Denis (Eileen), Richard (Mary Ellen), Lise and two sets of twins, Michel and Marie-Therese, and, Pierre (Chantal) and Paul. She also leaves 13 grandchildren, (Anne-Marie, Jean-Yves, Andre, Michel, Patrick, Michelle, Chantal, Daniel, Christian, Janelle, Carinne, Nicolas and Jeric). Joan is survived by her dear mother, Frances Kammermayer and siblings, Doreen (Ben Bieber), Mildred (Bob Njegovan), Don (Breda), Lucille "Bunny" (Jim Paci), Ellen (Roger Lunman) and Jerry (Fran). She was predeceased by her father, John Kammermayer in October, 1982. Joan was born in Langenburg, SK on October 10, 1931. She enjoyed a full, active and happy life growing up in a small Prairie town. In 1950, she followed her sister and best friend, Doreen, to the St. Boniface Hospital School of Nursing. She graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1953 after which she worked in the Hospital newborn nursery. While in training, Joan caught the eye of Clem Lavoie, a medical intern. They married on July 2, 1955 at the Holy Cross Church in St. Boniface. With the birth of their first child in 1956, Joan immersed herself in the challenges and joys of raising her family. Joans life was marked by multiple sclerosis, first diagnosed in 1960. Over the years, as her illness progressed, she became increasingly handicapped, eventually being confined to a wheelchair. Despite this, she took great pleasure in running her busy household. Joans extraordinary organizational skills allowed her to juggle the many needs and activities of her doctor husband and eight children, not to mention an endless succession of friends and pets. Every day, she touched the lives of all with her love and humour. In 1978, Joans illness required fulltime nursing care. She moved to Tache Nursing Centre, near the home and family she loved. For several years, she continued to play an important role in the lives of her husband and children with Sunday visits to the family home. Joan shared many laughs and was a willing participant (and sometimes recipient) in her childrens many pranks. Throughout her illness, she maintained a positive outlook, looking for the best in any situation. In October of 1984, Joan fell into a coma which robbed her of her lovely personality. Her condition changed little from then until her final passing. In spite of the many difficulties created by her illness, Joans life was a continuous display of courage born of a deep religious faith, a positive outlook, inner strength, and beauty of mind, heart and spirit. She gladly offered her suffering for the well-being of those she loved. We are forever enriched by the example she set. The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to the many home caregivers and to the wonderful staff of Tache Nursing Centre for all the years of loving care that they provided to Joan. Prayers will be said at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 24 at Desjardins Funeral Chapel, 357 Des Meurons St. Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 25 at the St. Boniface Cathedral. A private family interment will follow. Donations in Joans memory can be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Manitoba Division, 400-141 Bannatyne Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3B 0R3. The Desjardins Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements 233-4949, toll free 1-888-233-4949.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 24, 2003