Obituary of Isabelle Helene Laduranté
Isabelle Helen Gervais Laduranté was born February 06th, 1930 in Coniston Ontario. She went to heaven at the wise age of 91 on July 13th, 2021. Isabelle met Roy there, who had gone ahead of her on June 06th, 1988. They had wed on June 17th, 1950. Roy Joseph Laduranté was born June 15th, 1927, in Sudbury, Ontario.
Young Isabelle wasn’t inspired in school. She told funny stories of that time. As she always had a heart to help others, she left school to support and work alongside her mother, Anna, in her sewing business. Her five future daughters would later appreciate her expert skills.
Roy and Isabelle spent 3 decades together & raised 5 devoted daughters. During this time, Mom used her talents and creativity to proudly contribute toward the family earnings. She was a master gardener, along with Roy; they always had the nicest yard in the neighbourhood. For a tiny lady, she was strong and determined. In her fondest years, on their farm in Noelville, she worked side by side with Dad. It had been their dream and they got to live it together.
Isabelle was well travelled, having been coast to coast in our beautiful land. She enjoyed several trips to destinations south of the border. Her favourite journey, was to visit her youngest daughter, Angie, in England where Isabelle was treated like royalty and got to experience history and her world view in a whole new way.
Isabelle was also a writer of poetry & short stories; some have been published. There were always bits of paper around with her thoughts, prayers and observations. Mom was creative in so many ways. Isabelle took pleasure in the challenge of solving a problem & always looked for creative solutions in any endeavour she was focused on.
In recent years, Isabelle loved to crochet, knit & read. She particularly loved to read her Bible, spending many hours immersed in its comfort and meanings. Her favorite quote was the Golden Rule: “Love one another”. This was her guiding light for each day and each interaction with those she connected with.
A new & joyful adventure began in Isabelle’s life had when she moved to Mount Carmel Retirement Home. Spending nearly a decade there was a great gift in her life. We girls couldn’t have collectively imagined a better home for her. She connected with the loving Sisters and formed dear friendships with them and with countless resident friends. When she discovered her love of colouring, she started and led a colouring class for other budding artists. There was always fun & laughter when Mom was around. Helping others in any way she could was always her mission for the day. Isabelle loved to laugh & always had a ready smile for everyone.
Her heart and presence have not left us. Isabelle still shines brightly in our hearts & memories and doubtless always will. A life and light as strong & full of love as Isabelle Helen Gervais Laduranté, can never be extinguished. Mom, you are in our hearts forever!!!!! We love you!!!!! Let the celebrations begin!!!!!
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A few of the people that loved Isabelle and that Isabelle loved
Parents: Léon Gervais & Anna Martin
Children (including significant others):
Suzanne Ayotte married Ronald Ayotte (St.Catharines)
Darlene Dreger married Gordon Dreger (recently deceased Dec’20) (Summerside, PEI)
Robin (Roberta) Laduranté-Hobson married Thomas Hobson (Medicine Hat AB)
Micki (Monique) LaDuranté (St.Catharines)
Angie (Angèle) Fieldston married Mark Fieldston (Nottingham, England)
Grandchildren:
(Suzanne) David
(Darlene) Michael, Reneé Louise
(Robin) Richard, Christy, Sarah, Bethany
(Micki) Daniel
Plus 12 great-grandchildren
Siblings: Isabelle was preceded by her 2 precious sisters, Desneiges & Marie Rose, & 2 brothers Jean-Paul & Hector. Her younger brother, Armand (Jiggs), and 1 beloved sister-in-law, Audrey (Pet) Gervais, still reside in Sudbury.
AND THE PIGS CAME BACK
A story by Isabelle Laduranté
In the mid-seventies, my husband Roy and I decided it would be nice to settle on a hobby farm when he retired. Since he had just a few years to work, we decided to make move right away.
Within a few months, we had sold our home and bought a small farm. Farm life was wonderful. It was hard work, but the fresh air, peace and quiet made it all worthwhile and rewarding. I had never witnessed such beauty in the morning as the sun came up and the sunsets were breathtakingly beautiful. I remember them to this very day.
Four of our five daughters had grown and married or left home to work, except for the youngest of the girls, Angie. She was 12 years old.
We were starting our adventures as farmers. Neither one of us had ever lived in the country or on a farm before. Everything was new to us. How exciting!
Once our garden was ploughed and planted, we started getting a few chickens, then ducks and geese. By the second spring, we bought a young calf. Then came our two little piglets.
We were learning fast, or so we thought. We decided to house them in the barn because we had four stalls and only one calf in the barn. It was warm in there and we had the space. My husband sawed and hammered away for days getting their pen ready. Finally all was done. We happily left in our pick-up truck to bring our little pigs home.
The following morning we woke up early to a dark, wet and drizzly day. As usual, Roy looked forward to seeing his little menagerie in the morning, so out he went with pail in hand. He had no sooner left the house that he was back again.
“Our pigs are gone, both of them!” he said, pale and out of breath. Had they been stolen? Or kidnapped? There was nothing unusual in the barn, everything looked the same. Elsie, our cow, was there chewing her cud, happy as can be. The half door to the pig pen was still closed and locked. We always left the barn door open for the cats and the dog to come in and out. But the pigs were gone!
After looking around outside and seeing nothing, we went in for a good cup of hot coffee. All of a sudden, on the road in front of the house, ran our two little pigs, having fun and as lively as can be. You could almost hear them laughing.
Out we went. We called, we coaxed, we ran. They were just like little white tornadoes, here one minute and there the next. There was no way we could ever catch them, let alone approach them.
By this time, our young daughter was up and getting ready to go to school. We decided to keep her home that day, thinking we just might need her help. We all had a bit of toast and out we went again, calling, running, coaxing, but to no avail. Our neighbours saw the goings on and came over to help us. The pigs ran around even more.
The morning went by and still no pigs in the pen. It had been drizzling all morning; everyone was soaking wet and cold. We went into the house to dry off and have a bit of lunch, but no one was hungry. We had lost our pigs and our appetites too!
After lunch, out we went again. The pigs had disappeared in the bush. My husband and I jumped into his pick-up and headed for the lake at the back of the property. There they were by the water, playing, running and having fun. We could not even get close to them, they were so wild. Disgusted and discouraged, we went back home feeling mighty sad.
Hoping to get help from the farmer we had purchased the pigs from, I dialled their number but no one was home; no answer.
Then, from the corner of the garden, we could see at a distance, our two little pigs heading for the house. This time we’d get them! We ran out to the garage and each grabbed a big fish net in our hands and waited for them to come around the corner. They were coming, straight for the garage. We were ready, but so were they. One swoop, out went the net and out went the pig at the other end. It had gone right through the net and was gone again.
We were so shocked, we just stood there dumbfounded. “Those pigs are definitely laughing at us” I thought. Roy disappeared into the bush after them again. I went to the house with my head hung low. With a soft rain coming down steadily, the day was dark in more ways than one.
After a while, I saw the pick-up coming up the driveway. My husband came in with a smile on his face. “Good news” I thought. “These are for you, Honey. I thought you might like them, the first of the season.” From behind his back he pulled out some beautiful wild, pink, soppy wet roses. They were beautiful! I smiled back with a wet face, but it wasn’t from the wet roses.
I started preparing supper as the day was fast moving on. “One is back, one is back!” came a shout from our excited daughter. Out we went again.
“Close the barn door! Bolt the barn door!” Roy shouted. The pigs themselves had run into the barn. By the time Angie and I got to the barn we saw the other little pig jump back into the pen over the door. The door was about 4 feet high. These pigs were just babies, how could they jump so high? We had never seen anything like it. And, boy, were the pigs hungry!
Out came the hammer and boards. In no time, there was a high door to the pig pen. Roy was not ready to have a repeat performance for a very long time. Later in the season, when they were ready to be penned outside, they were so fat. I’m sure they couldn’t have jumped too high, but we took no chances. The fence was very high.
Supper was late that night. And our Olympic pigs, as we later called the, were closed in, locked in and bolted in.
Out daughter, of course, had school the next day and she needed an absence note for her teacher. “What are you going to tell the teacher, Mom?” she asked. “Well, we must tell the truth.” I said. And that is what I did.
The note was a very long one. The teacher read it and grinned to herself. She then asked Angie permission to read it to the class. Everyone had a good laugh and the teacher said that it was a nice way to start a day. With a good laugh, that is. “A merry heart is good like a medicine”, the Bible says. And so it is.
Two days later, Angie was leaving for school. “Mom, Mom!” she yelled. “Elsie is at the bus stop and I’m not staying home today to run after a cow!” And she hopped on the bus.
But that is another story…