Obituary of Frances Anne Dupont
It is with profound sadness that our family announces the death of (Frances) Anne Dupont (nee Henderson), who passed away peacefully after a valiant battle with a number of illnesses. Anne will be sorely missed by her daughter, Lise (Don), her son, Marc (Cheryl), and her four-year-old granddaughter, Genevieve, who was the light of her life.
Anne will be lovingly remembered by her dear aunt, Kathleen Closson, whom she cherished, and by her cousins Gary Closson (Diane) and Tom Closson (Jennifer), who spent a lifetime loving her, teasing her, and watching out for her.
Anne welcomed her children’s spouses, Don and Cheryl, into her heart and home, and it brought her gratification and fulfilment to witness how deeply her children are loved by them.
Anne grew up in Brampton, Ontario, and was showered with love and affection by her parents, Joseph and Genevieve (Jennie) Henderson. Anne completed the Ryerson Institute of Technology’s three-year Secretarial Science program between 1958-1961, where she mastered shorthand, typing, and a variety of other business communications. Then, between 1962 and 1963, she earned her teaching certificate from the Ontario College of Education (University of Toronto), after which she kicked off her teaching career at Central Peel Secondary School (1962-1967).
Anne married Jacques Dupont in 1963, and they moved to St. Catharines from Lorne Park in 1975. After conquering mouth cancer at the tender age of 41, she became a single mom and returned to the classroom. She taught at Niagara District Secondary School (1983-1986), the St. Catharines Collegiate (1986-1988), and Lakeport Secondary School, before joining the Lifetime Learning Centre, where she taught adults, many of whom were single women who were trying to better themselves by earning their high school diploma in later life. She retired from the Lifetime Learning Centre in 2002. A consummate teacher, Anne emphasized to her children the values of education and self-sufficiency as well as those of of kindness, decency, and gratitude. She was one class act.
Our mother is the most remarkable person we’ve known. Her life was peppered with a litany of health-related and personal challenges, and she countered every one of them with positivity, strength, grit, courage, and grace. Indeed, Anne’s life story is the stuff great biographies are made of, and her children will honour her life by passing these stories down to her granddaughter. Anne had a way of lighting up a room (hence the nickname Sparky in recent years) and making people feel special and heard. She enjoyed a wide circle of loyal friends, including the Hoares, the Cats, her Lifetime Learning friends, and people she grew up with in Brampton.
Godspeed to the sunshine in our lives. You will never be forgotten Mom, Sparky, Annie, Grandma.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Heatherwood Retirement Residence for their care and attention. Thanks also to the St. Catharines Hospital, especially the staff of 4A Unit, as well as the kind doctors who cared for Anne over the years, including Dr. Bob Merritt, Dr. S. Rammohan, Dr. Rachel Van der Meer, Dr. Jasmine K. Lamba, Dr. Danny Lagrotteria, and Dr Brian Rittenberg (Mount Sinai Hospital).
The family will receive friends at the George Darte Funeral Home, 585 Carlton St., St. Catharines 905-937-4444 on Saturday, February 19, 2022 from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm, followed by a Final Tribute to Anne at 1:00 pm in the Ceremony Room of the funeral home. For those unable to attend the celebration, an audiovisual recording will be posted on the funeral home’s website after the fact. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, Niagara Unit, would be appreciated by the family.
Those wishing to attend the Final Tribute for Anne must call to reserve at 905-937-4444 as capacity is limited.