December 21, 1929 ~ March 8, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our mother Therese Marie Lavoie on Tuesday, March 8th, 2022 at the age of 92 years.
Therese was born in Lafond, Alberta on December 21, 1929. She was the 7th child of Joseph and Marie Lafrance’s family of 11. She loved being on the farm, she enjoyed helping her mother washing clothes, gardening and sewing. One of her fondest memories growing up was helping her older sister Yvette bake large batches of bread.
At the age of 20 she decided to travel to Edmonton to visit her sister Ida. During her stay, Ida mentioned that the Grey Nuns at the General Hospital were looking for a housekeeper for their private quarters. With Ida’s referral mom was hired as their private housekeeper. It was there that she met our father Xavier Lavoie, he was known as “X the orderly”. After a brief courtship they were married on October 26,1949 in St. Paul, AB. Their life was busy raising 12 children, 9 sons and 3 daughters. The family has grown to include 22 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Once their children were raised, they spent several years volunteering at the Catholic Renewal Centre in downtown Edmonton where they met many wonderful people. They filled their time attending prayer breakfasts, seminars and retreats; it was a huge part of their lives until Dad’s health declined. Mom’s focus and dedication turned to taking care of Dad. There isn’t any doubt in our minds that she made all the difference in the quality and longevity of his life. Our father rallied all his life through sickness, sadly Dad passed away with mom at his side, on July 29, 2007.
Mom was a natural caregiver, she went above and beyond to help any of her extended family members that came into the city. Helping others gave her great pleasure, yet she never expected anything in return. She never wanted to impose or be a burden. Raising such a large family with Dad’s health issues meant she had to learn to drive, at a time when very few women drove in the city. Anyone that knew her, knew she loved to drive, she knew every nook and cranny of this city.
As she reflected on her life she shared; “The lord blessed me with a large family and it did wonders for me, I see that I was destined to be a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.”
Mom, we will see your reflection and hear your voice echo in the things you left behind, in the memories that will touch us when we least expect them, in the stories you shared, in the family traits you passed down and in the love that will keep you close to our hearts forever…we love love you and we will miss you….
Therese leaves to mourn 9 children, Andre (Tina), Paul (DR), Maria (Lorrie), Lucie (Bruce), Francois (Mile), Bernard, Dominique, Angele (Pat), and Antoine; 22 Grandchildren and 22 Great Grandchildren; daughter in-law, Myra; her brothers, Robert Lafrance and Albert (Renee) Lafrance; sisters, Annette Blanchette and Denise Joly; sister-in-laws, Agnes McDonald and Marie McDonald; as well as numerous extended family and friends.
She was predeceased by her husband, Xavier Lavoie; sons, Jean Louis Lavoie, Alphonse Lavoie and Arthur Lavoie; her parents, Joseph and Marie Lafrance; brothers, Leo-Paul Lafrance, Luke Lafrance and Henri Lafrance; sisters; Gertrude Tremblay, Yvette Tremblay, Sr. Ida Lafrance.
Special thanks are extended to the staff at Kipnes for their kindness, care and compassion.
A Mass of Christian Burial
March 17th, 2022
at 11:00 am
St John Bosco Catholic Church
13503 – 40 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
This service will be streamed online by St John Bosco Church at the below links;
https://www.facebook.com/boscoparish
https://www.youtube.com/c/StJohnBoscoChurchEdmontonAlberta
Internment
Evergreen Memorial Gardens
Memorial Donations
In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to
Kipnes Centre for Veterans
4470 McCrae Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta T6E 6M8
or a charity of your choice.
