GEMMA LAGACE (SELLO)

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GEMMA LAGACE (nee SELLO) 1912 - 2004 Le 18 decembre, 2004, Gemma Lagace est decedee paisiblement a l'age de 92 ans a l'Hopital general de Saint-Boniface. Elle laisse dans le deuil son mari depuis 69 ans, Gerard Lagace, et ses quatre enfants, Armelle (Louis Molin), Bruno, Michel et Emilie (Robin Wiens). Elle laisse aussi six petits-enfants: Jean-Michel Molin (Nicole Kleinschmit), Agnes Molin (David Hasselfield), Helene Molin (Avelin Gautron), Jean-Paul Lagace-Wiens (Ria Manoosingh), Philippe Lagace-Wiens (Claire Sevenhuysen), Daniel Lagace (amie Julie Chartrand) et treize arrieres-petits-enfants. Ses parents, Luigi Sello et Emilia Covassi, et son frere, Primo, l'ont predecedee. Gemma est nee le 22 septembre, 1912, a Fagagna, province d'Udine, en Italie. Sa famille connut l'occupation durant la premiere grande guerre. A la fin des hostilites, ses parents reussirent a emigrer au Canada, tandis que deux freres de son pere partirent avec leurs familles en direction de l'Argentine. Arrives au Canada en 1920, ses parents et son frere s'etablirent avec elle pour trois ans a Deerhorn au Manitoba. En 1923, la famille demenagea a Winnipeg, avenue College, ou Gemma frequenta l'ecole St. Joseph's. Au debut des annees trente, la famille acheta une terre sur le chemin Pembina a St-Norbert. Elle y construisit une maison et les batiments necessaires a l'exploitation d'une ferme. Le vendeur de cette ferme etait un voisin, Joseph Champagne, le grand-pere de Gerard Lagace. Gerard et Gemma s'epouserent le 12 octobre, 1935, en l'eglise de St-Norbert. Ils etablirent leur ferme pres de celle des grands-parents Champagne. En 1937, ils acheterent une terre du cote ouest du chemin Pembina, la ou se trouve aujourd'hui le chemin peripherique. Expropries en 1957 pour permettre la construction de cette route, ils s'etablirent sur le chemin Red River au sud de St-Norbert et y demeurerent jusqu'a l'inondation de 1997. Ils demenagerent alors a St-Boniface. Pendant plus de soixante ans, maman assura le bon fonctionnement de son foyer et participa aux travaux de la ferme et a la culture de grands jardins de fraises et de haricots. Elle veilla particulierement a l'education de ses enfants. Pour elle, une bonne education comprenait la musique. De nombreuses annees de lecons priees ont donne a tous ses enfants un amour de la musique, soit comme auditeurs soit comme executants. Impliquee dans la vie communautaire, elle participa aux nombreuses activites de benevolat de son epoux, surtout pendant les annees qu'il presida le Conseil de la Societe historique de Saint-Boniface. Dans le domaine paroissial, elle devint membre des Dames de Ste-Anne. Une fois cette association transformee en Ligue des femmes catholiques, elle en assuma la presidence pendant deux ans. Pendant plusieurs annees, elle cultiva les nombreuses fleurs qu’elle contribuait a la vente remue-menage de la paroisse pour prelever des fonds destines aux oeuvres charitables. Maman etait une femme determinee et perseverante qui n'a pas connu la paresse et qui supportait mal l'inactivite. Jusqu'a son demenagement a St-Boniface, elle mettait en conserves les produits d'un grand jardin et emerveillait les visiteurs avec la beaute et la variete des fleurs qu’elle aimait cultiver dans la grande cour de la ferme. Toujours accueillante, elle demeura fidele a ses traditions culturelles qui voulaient qu’elle offre sans faute nourriture et breuvages a tout visiteur. De plus, des le deces de son pere, elle assuma la responsabilite de selectionner les raisins qu’elle transformait en vin. Les resultats de son travail ont alimente les reunions de famille et d’amis pendant de nombreuses annees. Memere avait une affection toute particuliere pour ses petits-enfants et pour ses arrieres-petits-enfants. Elle entretenait une relation unique avec chacun d’eux. Ses petits-enfants garderont longtemps le souvenir des biscuits dont elle seule maitrisait la recette. La famille de Gemma desire remercier le personnel du Centre Tache et de l’Hopital general de Saint-Boniface qui ont offert des soins exceptionnels durant les mois qui ont precede sa mort. Leur soutien et leur compassion ont grandement reconforte sa famille et ses proches. La messe des funerailles sera celebree par Mgr Noel Delaquis le mercredi 22 decembre a 11h00 en la cathedrale de Saint-Boniface, suivant la veille du corps qui debutera a 10h30. L’inhumation aura lieu au cimetiere de la paroisse de Saint-Norbert. Ceux qui le desirent sont pries de faire un don au fonds de famille Gerard et Gemma Lagace a Francofonds Inc., au 340, boulevard Provencher, piece 215 237-5852. GEMMA LAGACE (nee SELLO) On December 18, 2004, Gemma Lagace passed away peacefully at the age of 92 at St. Boniface General Hospital. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 69 years, Gerard Lagace, and her four children: Armelle (Louis Molin), Bruno, Michel and Emilie (Robin Wiens). She also leaves six grandchildren: Jean-Michel Molin (Nicole Kleinschmit), Agnes Molin (David Hasselfield), Helene Molin (Avelin Gautron), Jean-Paul Lagace-Wiens (Ria Manoosingh), Philippe Lagace-Wiens (Claire Sevenhuysen), Daniel Lagace (friend Julie Chartrand) and thirteen great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, Luigi Sello and Emilia Covassi, and by her only brother, Primo. Gemma was born on September 12, 1912 in Fagagna, Udine, Italy. Her family experienced the occupation during the First World War. At the end of the hostilities, her parents arranged to emigrate to Canada, while her father's two brothers left for Argentina with their families. Arriving in Canada in 1920 with her parents and her brother, she lived in Deerhorn, Manitoba for three years. In 1923, the family moved to Winnipeg and lived on College Avenue where Gemma attended St. Joseph's School. In the early thirties, the family bought land on Pembina Highway in St. Norbert. There they built a house and the buildings required to establish a farm. The vendor of the land was a neighbour, Joseph Champagne, the grandfather of Gerard Lagace. Gerard and Gemma were married on October 12, 1935 in the church of St. Norbert. They initially lived on a farm near his Champagne grandparents' farm. In 1937, they bought a farm on the west side of Pembina Highway, where the perimetre highway now passes. Expropriated to allow for the construction of that highway in 1957, they moved to Red River Drive south of St. Norbert where they lived for forty years until the flood of 1997. They then moved to St. Boniface. For over sixty years, mom managed her household and participated fully in farm operations. For many years, she was instrumental in cultivating large strawberry and vegetable gardens. She was particularly attentive to the education of her children, and, for her, a good education included music. Many years of private lessons have given all her children a lifelong love of music, either as listeners or performers. Involved in community life, Gemma participated in the numerous volunteer activities of her husband, especially during the years he chaired the board of the St. Boniface Historical Society. In her parish, she was a member of the Dames de Ste-Anne. When this organization became the Ligue des femmes catholiques, she served as its president for two years. For many years, she tended the many plants and flowers she then donated to the parish's annual rummage sale to raise funds for charitable works. Mom was a determined and persevering woman who did not know the meaning of laziness and who did not tolerate idleness. Until she moved to St. Boniface, she canned or froze the products of a large garden, and visitors marvelled at the beauty and variety of the flowers she grew every year in the large yard of the farm. She was always pleased to greet visitors and honoured a timeless cultural tradition by offering food and refreshments to all. At the death of her father, she continued her family's tradition of making wine from a variety of grapes. For many years, family and friends enjoyed the results of her work whenever they gathered for a visit or a meal. Memere was particularly fond of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She developed a unique relationship with each one of them and her grandchildren will long remember the cookies only she knew how to bake. Gemma's family wishes to thank the staff of Tache Centre and of St. Boniface General Hospital who generously offered exceptional services during the months preceding her death. Their support and compassion were a great comfort to her family and friends. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 22 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Boniface Cathedral, Bishop Noel Delaquis presiding. Visitation will begin at 10:30. a.m. Interment will follow at the St. Norbert Parish Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, friends and family who wish to do so are invited to make a contribution to the Gerard et Gemma Lagace family fund at Francofonds Inc., 215-340 Provencher Boulevard (237-5852). The Desjardins Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements, 233-4949 or toll free at 1-888-233-4949. Family and friends are invited to sign the Book of Condolences at www.obituariestoday.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 20, 2004