Jeannette Marie Yvonne (Remillard) McDonald

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jeannette McDonald. She passed away peacefully on May 10, 2019.

Jeannette’s memory will always be remembered by her children: Larry, Garry (Kathy Soroka), Joy (Zaheer), Mark (Pam Joseph), Bruce (Tracey Geddes) and Dennis (Bernadette Rose) as well as her son-in-law Henry Desbiens, her sister Lucille Aulenback (Duke), sister-in-law Donna Remillard, brother-in-law Ron McDonald (Gladys) along with many nieces, nephews, family and friends.Her grandchildren will miss her dearly: Michelle Minken (Steven), Henri Desbiens, Kiley McDonald (Aaron Van-Eck), Scott McDonald (Carol) and Sherry Moore (Tearel) and step-grandchild Sameer Butt. Her greatgrandchildren Deanna and Nicholas Minken, Laraina and Logan McDonald, along with step-greatgrand children Sebastian Paul, Abram, Angela and Sara Moore.

Jeannette is pre-deceased by her husband George McDonald, siblings Jerry and Marcel Remillard, sister-in-law Lois Remillard (Fox), step grandchild Sajid Butt and her daughter, Diane Desbiens.

Jeannette Yvonne Marie was born on May 19, 1929. Her life started as the first child of Aurora and Alex Remillard. She spent many hours at her grandmother LaPlume’s house in St. Boniface, which had many children of all ages coming and going. Her uncles Ralph and Louis were not much older than herself. Her aunts Yvonne, Irene and Ida were a large part of her early life and she was very attached to them. Ida’s children became important friends in her life, especially Dolly, who was her best chum.

Jeannette was born in a taxi on the way to the St. Boniface Hospital. Her parents lived on Mission Street during a difficult economic time, The Depression. She often told a story of how the children walked down the railway tracks behind their house looking for coal that had dropped off the trains. They needed it to heat their houses. There were also good times spent with her family on vacations.

Her mother, Aurora, became very ill with cancer when Jeannette was a young age. Her life changed drastically after that. She had to stay home from school. At first, she helped her mother with the younger children and then later she left school altogether, at 16, to raise her brothers, Jerry and Marcel and her younger sister, Lucille.

In the late 1940s, a stranger came to their door, a man her father knew from working in the east side of Manitoba cutting firewood for the McDonald family in Vivian. His name was George McDonald. He had just arrived home from the war and had stopped by to visit with Alex. Jeannette was not impressed with this young man when she first met him. He was loud and brash. Eventually, George won her over and they were married on May 20, 1950. During the early years of their marriage they lived on Mason Street and began their family. Diane came first and then Larry. The family moved to Lagimodiere Blvd, where she spent the rest of her life. The family continued to grow; Garry, Joy, Mark, Bruce and Dennis.

On February 7, 1970, Jeannette lost her beloved husband, George. After that terrible loss, Jeannette went to work to support her family. She worked for Romans Cleaning and later for Western Egg where she stayed until her retirement.

Jeannette had a full and rich life with many wonderful experiences. She loved to travel with different family members and especially loved cruises. She travelled to Switzerland, Alaska, the Caribbean, Martinique, Panama Canal, Key West, Hawaii and Jamaica.

We will miss you dearly. We will miss your singing and baking all those delicious goodies (fruitcake, butter tarts, pies and cookies) in your kitchen. We will miss stopping by your house for a cup of tea or coffee and getting a chance to hear the news of the neighbourhood. We will miss you talking about your flowers and showing us how great your garden is doing.

We will miss your calm spirit and unflappable perseverance. The way you never shouted or got angry, no matter what challenges life threw your way.

The corner of Dugald and Lagimodiere will not be the same without you there. We hope you are dancing the polka with your beloved George. We know he and Diane are in Heaven ready to welcome you with open arms.