Obituary of Louise Bouvier

In Loving Memory of Louise Bouvier

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Louise. Mom was born on November 16, 1940, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Mom was a woman of extraordinary character whose impact on the lives of those around her will be forever cherished.

Mom was the eldest of 4 children, raised in Coderre, Saskatchewan. From a very young age, Mom learned to be independent and the importance of hard work. A story from her childhood she shared was from as young as the third grade she; along with her younger siblings, went to school driven by a team of horses on a sleigh. She was told never to touch the reigns as the horses knew the way and off they went!

After Mom graduated from high school, she moved to Quebec where she earned her 1-year teaching certificate. She then returned to Coderre where she immediately commenced teaching.  After attending a hockey game with friends in Gravelbourg, Mom met and became smitten with this handsome young man with piercing blue eyes named Gilbert. Not long after, on November 8, 1961, at the age of 21, they married. Together, Mom and Dad moved to numerous communities including Bridgeford, Coderre, Gravelbourg, and eventually in 1966 to Lafleche and remained there for the remainder of their lives.

Together, Mom and Dad had 4 children. Mom stayed home and devoted her life to parenting when the kids were young. She returned to teaching in 1975. She was initially teaching school in Gravelbourg where she taught in French and commuted from Lafleche to Gravelbourg. She did; however, secure a teaching position in Lafleche after a year. Mom prioritized making time to pursue many goals, passions, and interests. She obtained her teaching degree while balancing working full time and parenting 4 kids at home. She thus taught school during the week, went to Regina and/or Saskatoon on weekends to attend classes, came home with significant homework, and managed a household which she took great pride in ensuring it was always clean and tidy with a husband and 4 children at the same time.

We always admired how Mom dealt with Dad regularly arriving home with unexpected guests who he had invited for supper without advising Mom. Mom never skipped a beat and would have a full and delicious feast prepared for everyone in no time flat – and this was upon returning from home after teaching school all day. Despite being busy with teaching, being a homemaker, and assisting Dad with farming responsibilities, Mom still made time for attending sewing classes, cooking classes, curling, partaking in the infamous snowmobiling trips, playing board games with family and of course being a Mom.  She not only sewed clothes for us kids but also sewed our barbies’ clothes – much of which we still own! Mom loved to cook and after taking an Asian cooking course, some of her Asian meals were a specialty and a regular request. Mom had regular requests for so many of her amazing meals including but not limited to her oyster soup, chicken cordon bleu, homemade fettucine and those amazing cabbage rolls!

Mom and Dad invested in significant farmland in Montana while Mom was still teaching; so on Fridays after school, she would pack up and travel on her own to the farm in Montana. Once there, she would work non-stop making meals and baking for hired hands; as well as would be washing laundry, making beds and cleaning this old farmhouse located an hour from civilization in the middle of Montana and then back to Lafleche for school on Monday morning.

After over 30 years of teaching, Mom earned a well-deserved retirement. Throughout her retirement, Mom and Dad still were active with farming as well as socializing. Throughout their entire lives, Mom and Dad were very active socially and particularly enjoyed having company over for dinner, cards and lots of “happy hours”. We can recall many an occasion where the table was full of friends and family and the home was full of laughter and story telling.

Mom was known for her ability to garden and produce enough food for not only the family, but it also seemed half of the community as well at times! She and Dad were known for being kind and generous and welcomed people into their home without hesitation; and anybody who stepped foot in the door were guaranteed to leave with a full stomach.

Mom and Dad enjoyed traveling to Arizona many winters. They had numerous friends and everywhere they went, made more friends as Dad was very much a social butterfly and even in their retirement and in Arizona, Mom still enjoyed hosting meals and many happy hours for new and old friends.

Mom loved to travel and had a fun and adventurous spirit. She enjoyed many trips throughout the years. She traveled both with Dad and with friends. Aside from the many Arizona adventures, she also enjoyed trips to Mexico, Yellowstone, Quebec, PEI, the Mediterranean, Europe, Las Vegas, and of course those many casino trips in the US.

Mom loved her home and community, so made the decision to stay here even after the loss of Dad. She continued to attend church, maintain her home and enjoy her connection to the community she so loved. She leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion, strength and resilience. She touched the hearts of many and through her 30 plus years of teaching has had an impact on so many lives. It warms our hearts to hear the many comments of admiration and appreciation of her from her many students. She was an incredible woman who led a full life with no regrets. She embraced her role as a mother, wife, teacher, farmer, and homemaker.  She has touched so many lives and will be dearly missed and forever remembered. We will miss you Mom…

Mom leaves to grieve her children Gilles and his wife Brenda, Jeannette, Anita and her husband Dale and Nicole.  She also leaves to grieve her grandchildren Alexa, Danica, Michael (Kalie), Jennifer (Dean), Noelle (Justin), Zachary, Reanne, Delaina, and Carson and great grandchildren Kaiden, Blossom, Riker and Astrid.  Mom was predeceased by her husband Gilbert, her parents Omer and Cecile Gaucher, her siblings Vivianne Caron, Leonne Morgan and Rene Gaucher as well as her granddaughter Autumn. She will also be missed by her many friends, extended family, and hundreds of students throughout the years.

A service to celebrate Louise Bouvier's life will be held on March 1, 2025, at the Lafleche St. Radegonde Church at 2:00 pm with a luncheon to follow at the Lafleche Wood River Memorial Hall located at 225 1^st Street West. Friends, family, and of course former students are invited to attend.

We would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to staff and nurses of St. Joseph’s Hospital for their compassionate and exceptional care provided for Mom while in hospital. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mom’s memory be made to St. Joseph’s Hospital/Foyer d’Youville located at 216 Bettez Street Gravelbourg, Sask S0H 1X0