Carol St. Louis

Carol Ann St. Louis

(nee Reid)

Suddenly, on Wednesday, December 14, 2016, Carol St. Louis, beloved wife of Roger St. Louis, passed away at the Portage District General Hospital at the age of 77 years.

Mom was born in Winnipeg on December 24, 1938 to Charles and Winnifred Reid (nee Smith).  She grew up there, attending St. Ignatius School.  She went on to work at the Canadian Wheat Board as a keyboard operator, at which time she met and married Roger St. Louis on February 7, 1959. Together they had three children.

Roger belonged to the RCAF, which took them on many adventures across the country.  We lived in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Winnipeg, Holberg, B.C., and back to Portage where Dad eventually retired.  She was very fortunate to be able to try her hand in a variety of jobs in their travels, where they met and made many lifelong friends.

Left to cherish her memory are Roger, her husband of 57 years; children Simonne (Brian) Fust, Lorraine St. Louis (Joey) and George St. Louis; grandchildren and great grandchildren:  Paul (Brooke) Fust,  Kyu & Izzi; Dale (Sarah) Fust, Charlie and Olivia; Eric Rae, Shasta St. Louis (Russell), Sierra; Steven Rae (Mel); Chris St. Louis (Anna), Mason and Taylor; Nikki McFarlane (Justin), Dylan and Abby; brother Cummings Reid, brothers/sisters-in-law Joyce Reid, Carol Reid, Hugh Groombridge, Pat Reid, Rolland St. Louis, Teri Williamson (John), Jeannine St. Arnaud (Paul), Maurice (Ethel); Madelleine St. Louis; Paulette Marsolais (Henri); and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Predeceased by her parents and her parents-in-law:  Alexander & Antoinette St. Louis; Brothers and Sisters:  Jimmy Reid, Ralph Reid, Jack Reid, Wally Reid, Hazel Reid, Phil Reid, George Reid, and Twin Sister Winnie Groombridge; Brothers and Sisters-in-laws:  Johnnie Reid, Pat Reid, Allan Reid, Claire and Rudy Cloutier, Phillippe St. Louis, Normand St. Louis.

Carol was very loyal, caring, fun-loving, and sweet. She looked forward to visits from family and friends and always greeted them with hugs, kisses, and smiles.  Her smile was contagious and she could brighten up any room .

Carol was fabulous with her tiny little hands – she loved to knit, crochet, and cross stitch and her house walls are evidence of that.  She also loved to share her delicious baking with all who came to visit.  Her recipes will live on as long as her family does.  She loved to play video games – Atari’s famous PacMan was her specialty – just ask her grandkids who the champion was.

In her younger years she could be found on the dance floor wearing out Dad’s hip.  Mom and Dad also spent many hours playing cards with family and friends, and Mom could be heard cursing at Dad as he attempted to cheat everyone.  She loved a good joke, but couldn’t tell one for the life of her.  Everyone would get a good chuckle out of her attempts though.  She didn’t always recognize that it wasn’t the joke but the delivery that was so amusing.

In the winter, she had fun bowling and had many trophies to be proud of.  In the summer, she could be found in their backyard swimming pool.  It was never hard to find someone to join her – her grandkids have lots of fond memories.

She had many hobbies and interests.  She could be found doing jigsaw puzzles, word searches and crosswords, many times sharing those pastimes with her grandkids. She loved to collect things:  Beannie babies, precious moments, garden ornaments, and knickknacks.

We didn’t love Mom any less when she lived in the nursing home. She was her purest self. The essence of this wonderful woman — sweet, good, funny, kind and loving — remained. Alzheimer’s splits a person in two; their life divides into who they were before and who they are afterwards. We grieve her twice, mourning two spirits but lucky for having known both.

A celebration of Carol’s life will be held on Thursday, December 22, 2016 at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel at 11:00 am.

The family extends our heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Lions Prairie Manor for the love, excellent care, and compassion they have shown our Wife/Mom/Grandma for the past several years.

If friends so wish, donations in memory of Carol may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba, 108 B E Saskatchewan Ave, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 0L1.

A tree will be planted and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel. www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com. 204-857-4021