Peacefully surrounded by her loving family at her side on March 10, 2018. Predeceased by her late husband Yvon. Loving mother to Suzanne (Tom Pagett), Giselle, Lucy Fullerton, Armand (Kris), Raymond (Lisa), Rene (Susanne) and Pierre (Veronica). Nanny to Krysta, Erin, Scott, Nicholas, Jake, Spencer, Myles, Kyle, Mitchell and Taylor. She is survived by sisters Gilberte Pigeon and Berthe Dumais. A heartfelt thanks to Regina Gardens staff and residents for their kind words, blessings and care beyond expectation. Her family will receive friends at the Cresmount Funeral Home, 322 Fennell Ave. E. on Wednesday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena, Our Lady of Lourdes site, 416 Mohawk Rd. on Thursday, March 15th at 10 a.m. with interment following in Resurrection Cemetery in Ancaster.
Story of Annette
Little French girl from a small Quebec town, flees this town, meets and marries a hot blooded Frenchman taxi driver from New Brunswick, who definitely had plans for her. They settled in Hamilton and decided to start a baby making factory.
With this intended goal in mind and production rivalling anything on Burlington street in its heyday 7 children were produced in 10 short years. The firm's only employee (Annette) was then subsequently let go.
Saddled with all the burdens and dramas all these young lives could produce, this little Quebec girl gave everything she could with all that she had to keep things going, obviously many times she must clearly have been overwhelmed by the above.
Imagine the task involved in packing up the family for the many camping trips to Byng Island, Sunnibank park or to Sauble Beach for a 2 week vacation multiply this feat every time we happily attended family reunions in Quebec, New Brunswick or up to Sudbury. As difficult as planning and loading up the family for a road trip must have been mom and dad never made any excuses and off went. (They loved to travel.)
Mom's favourites pass time was bingo which was enjoyed vigorously and often with her daughters and on many occasions our neighbour Maureen. Picture the queen of bingo playing 50 sets of bingo cards. When she hit the jackpot, she proudly displayed the bounty across the kitchen table. Imagine up to $ 2,500 in $5, 10's and 20 dollar bills layed out for maximum viewer effect and dad jumping around in pure excitement.
Teens years- Nobody can leave out a discussion about mom without talking about her liberal values. She was the absolute coolest mother you could ever hope for and our house was ground zero for many school friends and many other characters we brought around. We had a blast with mom taking pre dance beer orders for school friends. Eventually if you hung around our house long enough you would be exposed to the wet towel game where mom would quiz you with questions designed to make you answer "yes, no or nod your head" which was a violation of the games rules. She had a great knack which resulted in a swift passionate smack to the side of the head. Also remembered were numerous games of euchre and scat (31) with family and friends around the card table. Mom loved playing chards and would spend many hours playing at the church.
In 1977 mom made a profound life change. This change she articulated many times over the years came about only with strength and help from god. In later years she would attend church on a daily basis earning her the moniker "Mrs. Church" from our great extended family in Montreal. The church serving as a spiritual as well as a social
outlet.
She lovingly tended for 10 years to the aged at Beacon Hill Lodge. This produced a lifelong friend named Mariette to whom we thank for her deer friendship. She took a weeks parental leave of absence travelling solo on a religious pilgrimage to medjugore Yugoslavia, highlights of this trip included religious figures in the clouds, people talking in tongue and weeping on demand statues. This for her must have been quite the trip.
Mom came back dad retired and they travelled cross country to BC and back. An epic 12 week , 500 km per day trip another adventure. This was followed by a retirement move up to Sauble Beach. Here family and friends were hosted on vacations and getaways where sunsets, waves and fireside guitar parties where refreshments were frequently enjoyed. ( Mom happily abstaining ). Mom had lots of energy and would coax you into a late night game of euchre or to play a board games. She also musically played her heart out in their Merrytimers band. This they did for area old age homes and for friends. This period they enjoyed for up to 7 years ending until dad's passing.
We were thankful following dad's passing as mom moved in with Aunt Stella this was followed by a move to Villa Kiev. Here she made lots of friends and spent her days sharing her love of music with Bill, Irene, Sienna, Ray Breau and aunt Donna playing at old age homes and among friends. When Matante Gilbert visited from Montreal the two little sisters would frequently hit the "Casino" enjoy each other's company. When the casino was not an option mom enjoyed playing a number tile game called Rummicub" with her sons, daughters and friends.
We would like to thank everyone who provided friendship in the Villa Kiev years. Next she reluctantly was moved to Regina Gardens nursing home. Nice place to visit adage would apply here. Here she quickly adjusted to her new environment and in one short year wove her magic once again. She sharing her warm smile, love of music and love for people for as long as she possibly could. With nurses hugging and kissing her like she was their own and tending to her failing health with tears in their eyes we knew she touched their lives deeply as well. We were and are so blessed and thankful to the Regina gardens staff, the manager Mikey, the nurses, Darlene, Karen and Rachel who spurred mom on with a warm smile and tons of affection. Also resident's such as Jackie whom mom declared a friend the first time she saw her, the Italian lady, Bonnie and Aidan the guitar man who lit up her life and those of others every time he strummed his guitar.
If Yvon, guitars, bingo dabblers, cards and casinos are in heaven mom will make out just fine. In closing I think this little Quebec girl had quite the journey. Thanks, love you mom !!
Little French town, St. Alexis, Quebec
Annette's ism's
Instinct- she would say it in English but pronounce it in French " ainstinct"
Discussing women problems she was talking about estrogen or replacement therapy but pronounced it extrogen.
When mom wanted to say a family speech she would wail louder than everybody "scuse me, scuseme, scuse me, louder and louder until we all got the message to be quiet, basically demanding that we give her the floor. (In a nice but stern way)
Taking many of the family pictures which we would all line up for when everybody would get ready to say cheese, this loud voice would belt out a huge "Jesus""Jesus" Jesus" just as the picture was taken, guess who this was. This was done many times after her god finding years !!
We'd be watching a scary movie up at the cottage and mom would stealthily sneak out put on a trench coat pull panty hose over her head and extend her dentures. This she did many times hiding in a closet or come around a corner and scare the living hell out hell out of us !!
Mom would do everything humanly possible to get all of her ducks together.
Power of persuasion/ Strong arm ,when mom wanted you to attend an important family get together Hint: every family get together is important but so is earning a living. When hearing you had to work a Saturday night shift she would say "It's too bad you can't come" yeah I know mom but I gotta work. Conversation would continue and a few minutes later "It's too bad you can't come" this usually happened 2-3 times before she gave up,
After a big family dinner at Sue and Tom's with food barely settled " A voice would question loudly " Is anybody making a tea " which was mom's code for somebody get off their butts and make me a tea. However when you visited her and dad after a long shift or up North we would get to sit on our butts and be catered to ,,,,,
Mom would do everything humanly possible to get all of her ducks together.
Is der any ting I can do for you ?? Mom constantly doted on us, with a French accent on some words she just couldn't lose.
Later on in years mom' s hearing was deteriorating and you'd call and she would say
Who's Dat- I'd reply Santa Claus she would break out laughing !!
Mom and girls getting together to make meat pies every Christmas we're gonna miss her. Thanks mom !!
Mom would attempt to call out the name of a desired son say Raymong. She would first call Armand, Rene and Pierre before getting the right one, As she rattled through all the wrong names we amusingly wondered who the heck does she really want anyway ??
Problem/ Reaction/ Solution - our little brother Pierre developed an interesting habit which may have begun with his big sister Sue spoiling the living heck out of him. Of course being the smart cute little kid he was, he keenly realized that if he didn’t get what he wanted he would just start balling his bloody eyes out, not only that he began to hold his breath which made you believe he was going to swallow his tongue or die of oxygen deprivation as he was starting to turn blue. Mom used the term pomming whatever it was he cried so hard and could not draw his next breath we seriously thought he would die. After what seemed like years of pulling this temper tantrum stuff off and with no end to the behaviour in sight. I believe mom with divine intervention from “God” was told to fetch a large cold glass of water which she did and she violently flung into the little brats face ending this family holding hostage behaviour forever.
Thanks mom !!
Forever loved, and you’ll always be missed. Love you !!
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