Rachel Dupuis

Rachel Dupuis passed away of natural causes on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at the age of 69 years. She is the daughter of the late Lionel (former Wing Commander) and Geraldine Dupuis (nee LeScelleur). She leaves behind her beloved son, Jonah and his wife Mary as well as her siblings Monique Dupuis, Suzanne Higginson, Marie Dupuis, Marc Dupuis, and Robert Dupuis (Ingrid Fish). She will be remembered and missed by her many nieces and nephews: Ron (Marianne), Susie (Andrew), Paul (Camille), Marie-Aimée, Geneviève, Joel, Emilie (Phil), Palma and Gabrielle (Ethan).

As the daughter of a military man, Rachel grew up in many different places in Canada and the US, but eventually settled in Ottawa to be near family to help with raising Jonah. As a single mother, Rachel threw her energies behind building a career for herself and she worked her way up from a clerical position to a management position through intelligence, determination, and ambition. Rachel is remembered with appreciation as someone who was highly supportive of her staff, embraced the role of mentor to people new to the job and advocated for those experiencing unfairness or discrimination. Rachel started her well-earned retirement in 2009.

Rachel was a strong, independent, and private person. She was funny and loved an ironic or dark turn to a joke. Rachel was comfortable with her own company but also enjoyed chatting with friends and neighbours, catching up by phone with her siblings and spending special occasions with Jonah and Mary and the family. Rachel threw legendary Christmas Eve parties for the whole Dupuis crew and Christmas day became a day for recovering. Young people found Rachel a good listener, supportive and even “cool” and she made lasting and loving connections with Jonah’s friends who would show up at her house at all hours. An animal lover, Rachel always had dogs and cats in her life who she found funny and engaging. Rosie, a Boston Terrier and French Bull dog mix, was one of her favourites and a long term companion in her retirement. Rachel loved to read and was knowledgeable about books and authors, a passion she passed on to Jonah.

The family invites you to join them in honouring Rachel at a memorial gathering on Thursday, June 8th from 2-5pm at Racine, Robert & Gauthier Funeral Home, 180 Montreal Road, Vanier. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Action on Smoking and Health ( www.ash.org ) would be appreciated by the family.