PEARL MARIE DUCHARME (LAVALLEE)

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PEARL MARIE DUCHARME (nee LAVALLEE) Born January 25, 1922 Went To Heaven December 14, 2004 A Beautiful Angel Went Home To Heaven. After a long battle with a stroke, with her family by her side Mother went quietly to heaven. She was welcomed home by her husband Louis Ducharme (1988); her beloved son Louis Edward Ducharme (2003); parents Theresa and Regis Lavallee; her sisters, Yvette Olson and Aldea Ducharme; her brother Jack Lavallee; infant grandchildren, Rhonda Pearl Lavallee and Douglas Ducharme; great-granddaughter Anina Lavallee and son-in-law Leonard Lavallee. Left to cherish her memory are her seven children, 20 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Daughter Stella (Alfred) Lavallee of St. Ambroise, MB and their children, Billy (Karen) Lavallee and Michelle Lavallee of St. Ambroise, Tracy (Gary) Lavallee of Portage la Prairie and RCMP Constable Al (Barb) Lavallee stationed at Deloraine, MB. Son Reginald (Wilna) Ducharme of St. Ambroise and their children, Karen (Arnie) Overton of Edmonton, AB, Dean Ducharme (Sharon) of St. Laurent, MB, Timmy Ducharme of Winnipeg. Daughter Louise (Armand) Ducharme of St. Boniface, and their children, Joe Ducharme, Debbie Ducharme, Denise (Mike) Ducharme of St. Boniface. Daughter Yvette (John) Stimpson of Winnipeg and their children, Lee (Marie) Stimpson, Michael Stimpson, Daniel Stimpson, Lori Stimpson all of Winnipeg. Daughter Betty Ann Lavallee (widowed) of Winnipeg and her children, Brenda Gee of Portage la Prairie, Beverly Lavallee of Winnipeg and Lenny (Louise) Lavallee of St. Ambroise. Son Glen (Lia) Ducharme of Treherne, MB and their daughter Hannah. Deceased son Louis's children, Kristen and Kurtis Ducharme and their mother Glenda of St. Laurent, MB. She also leaves special memories for her great-grandchildren, Maurice and Christopher Ducharme, Chance Ducharme, Britney Posnikoff, Jessica Ducharme, Kyle Ducharme, Nicky, Andrew, and B.J. Lavallee, Fallon Lavallee, Damon and Kayla Lavallee, Joey Ducharme, Danielle Stimpson, Patrick Stimpson, Tiffany and Matthew Gee and Hunter and Eve Ann Lavallee. Also mourning her passing are her sisters, Julie Cromarty, Evelyne St. Goddard, Shirley (Maurice) Blanchard all of Portage la Prairie; brothers, Fred (Evelyne) Lavallee of Houston, BC, Marcel Lavallee of Portage la Prairie and Leon Lavallee at Lions Prairie Manor in Portage la Prairie and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Mom was born in St. Ambroise and she resided there all her life. She married our father in 1940 and together they worked hard to raise and provide for their children. She was always ready to give a helping hand to anyone who needed it. We will always remember the fresh and heavenly scents coming from her kitchen. There was always food being prepared and we have enjoyed her wonderful cooking many times over the years. Mom had a passionate love for children, we were all welcomed in her loving arms, so were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Everyone was properly enfolded in her family after the obligatory dance . She was also a cat lover so we could always count on seeing kittens, mother cats and some bigger boy cats around her place, they had to dance also.....She loved flowers and vegetables so she took advantage of the summer months to always plant as many as she could. She loved to visit with her sisters and spent many wonderful hours with her sisters Julie and Aldea having tea. She always had to bring a treat or some token of her love when she came over. Mom was a kind and compassionate woman; she believed in God and practiced her religion faithfully. She taught us some very important lessons and we will always be grateful that she was chosen to love and raise us. We will miss her more then words can express, but we will also cherish our memories of her beautiful smile and loving ways. The family would like to express our gratitude and thanks to the staff of Douglas Campbell Lodge for providing compassionate care to our Mom. Special thanks to Auntie Shirley for her many visits and to Uncle Maurice for playing wonderful music for her on the piano, which was enjoyed by all. Viewing will take place at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel, 56 Royal Rd. South, Portage la Prairie on Friday, December 17 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Cremation will follow. There will be prayers at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 18 with a funeral mass to follow at St. Ambroise Catholic Church in St. Ambroise, MB with Celebrant Fr. Michael Wollbaum officiating. Interment will follow in the St. Ambroise Cemetery. If friends and family wish to do so flowers are welcomed. As expressions of sympathy donations may be made in Pearl's memory to Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, in care of Catherine Newham - Portage Office, 103 Wilkinson Cres., Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 1A7. Maman - Mimere HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST God looked around His garden, And found an empty space. He then looked down upon the earth, And saw your tired face. He put His arms around you, And lifted you to rest. God's garden must be beautiful, He only takes the best. He knew that you were suffering, He knew that you were in pain, He knew that you might never, Get well upon this earth again. He knew the road was getting rough, And the hills were too hard to climb. So He closed your weary eyelids, And whispered, Peace be thine . It broke our hearts to lose you, But you did not go alone, For part of us went with you, The day God called you home. A tree will be planted and cared for in memory of Pearl by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel who are in care of arrangements. 857-4021 www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 16, 2004