Obituary of Marguerite Mondor

Marie Marguerite Genevieve Mondor (nee Bourassa) of Assiniboia, SK and formerly of Willow Bunch, SK, passed away suddenly on Sunday, December 16, 2018, at the age of 94 years. She was born on May 3, 1924, in Radville, SK, the fifth of Emile and Léa (nee Labbée) Bourassa’s 12 children. Marguerite worked with her father and brothers as clerk and book keeper in their John Deere dealership E. Bourassa & Sons. Marguerite met Paul-Emile Mondor when he was visiting his cousins in Radville, and they were married on April 8, 1947. Paul-Emile and Marguerite moved to the Mondor family farm near Willow Bunch, which Paul-Emile eventually purchased from his father and where together they had 10 children. Marguerite had been a town girl and had to learn the ways of the farm. She already loved to sew and knit, but making bread and butter was new for Marguerite, as was raising cattle, hogs, and chickens. She grew large gardens each year and in the early years she often helped with farming, driving the truck or tractor. Marguerite and Paul-Emile loved to host card parties. Living on the Mondor homestead, they also hosted many weddings, anniversaries, and celebrations. All but the acreage with the house, farm buildings, and 17 acres of land were sold in 1973 when Paul-Emile’s health was failing. He then passed away suddenly in November 1974. Marguerite with five younger children continued to live on the acreage where they enjoyed skating and playing hockey on the rink they built in the back yard for many years. Marguerite began curling at the age of 17 and continued to curl into her 80s. After the children were gone from home, Marguerite became involved in the community and the church as well as the Royal Canadian Legion, the community centre and tenants association of Pleasant Valley Court where she later resided. She also served provincially and travelled a great deal with the Catholic Ladies and French Seniors’ associations. Marguerite enjoyed family gatherings, daily masses, taking trips in her car, riding her bicycle, golfing, swimming, parties, games, cards, knitting, crocheting, reading, going for coffee, and residing in Willow Bunch. Travelling and photography became her passions, leaving behind many albums of fond memories. Besides visiting family and friends, she took every travel opportunity that came along - crossing Canada and the US many times, visiting Europe, Ireland, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, the Caribbean and Jamaica. She was proud to have visited the Pope three times - in Winnipeg, Denver and Rome. Marguerite is survived by son Philippe; son George; daughter Carmelle, grandson Justin (Chantal); son Paul (Barb), grandchildren Jessica (John), Vanessa (Alex), Alysson; son Norman, grandchildren Dexter (Erin), Aftan; daughter Doreen; son Ronald ( Lynn); son Roger (friend Lynn); son Allan; daughter Jenny (Brian), grandchildren Megan, Rhandi; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Paul-Emile (1974), parents Emile and Léa (nee Labbée) Bourassa and all but two of her siblings. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at St. George's Roman Catholic Church in Assiniboia. Interment will take place at a later date at the St. Ignace Roman Catholic Cemetery, Willow Bunch, SK. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marguerite’s memory may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association.