Bernadette Desaulniers

Bernadette Desaulniers

OCTOBER 26, 1931 – AUGUST 26, 2022

Bernadette Rose-Aimée Desaulniers (née Poulin) passed away peacefully on August 26, 2022, at the age of 90 at St. Patrick’s Long Term Care home in Ottawa, Ontario. Born 26 October 1931, into a farming family in Ste Côme, Quebec. In 1948, her family moved to Theresa Mines, Ontario and shortly thereafter to Longlac, Ontario. She worked as a “cookie” for Kimberly-Clark Pulp and Paper where she met and fell in love with Rudolphe (Rudy) Desaulniers. They married in 1956 and raised their family. Due to health issues, she spent the last 10 years in Ottawa. Bernadette is survived by her youngest sister Helene Verne (née Poulin) of Geraldton, Ontario and sisters-in-law Louise Poulin (née Veer) of Ottawa ON and Claudette Poulin (née Gaudreault) of Farnham, Quebec. She is predeceased by her husband Rudy in 2015, and her siblings Glorieuse, Annette, Jean-Paul, Monique, Oscar, Beatrice, Yvon, and Robert Poulin. Bernadette and Rudy had a beautiful family of 8 children: Johanne (Jean Veilleux) of Ottawa, Ontario; Ronald of Longlac, Ontario; Pierre (Marianne) of Brampton, Ontario; Jean (Crystal) of Brule, Alberta; Louise (Andrew MacKenzie) of Keswick, Ontario; Claude (Sherry) of Hinton, Ontario; René (Christine) of Ottawa, Ontario, and Simon of Longlac, Ontario.

She was proud of her 15 grandchildren (and 6 great-grandchildren): Joel Veilleux (Andrea) of Hamilton, Ontario; Killishandra of Ottawa, Ontario; Corey Brochu (Kayla, Ada and Isabelle) of Thunder Bay, Ontario; Chelsea Desaulniers of Calgary, Alberta; Benjamin Desaulniers (Ashley) of Montreal, Quebec; Cleo Desaulniers of Hinton, Alberta; Samuel Desaulniers of Hinton, Alberta; Alex MacKenzie (Rikki, Luke and Ayden) of Saskatoon Saskatchewan; Michael MacKenzie (Sebastien) of Edmonton, Alberta; Jada and Jacob Desaulniers of Hinton, Alberta; Mathieu Desaulniers of Timmins, Ontario; Alicia Minor (John, Leo and Oliver) of Hammond, Ontario; Paul Desaulniers (Louise) of Ottawa, Ontario; and Eric Desaulniers of Longlac, Ontario.

Bernadette was a loving wife and mother. She excelled at raising an honest, respectable, and close-knit family. She loved to garden and pick berries to make her blueberry wine. A great cook, Bernadette always had homemade dessert on the table. A tireless provider, her children inherited strong work ethics for which they are well known.

She enjoyed watching her children thrive in sports because she was a passionate competitor. In the words of one of her grandchildren “heaven just got a little more competitive”.

She loved playing cards (piques, 500) and sports, especially downhill and cross-country skiing, curling, bocce, baseball, and badminton. She loved skiing vacations and last skied Revelstoke at the age of 80. She participated at the Seniors' District and Ontario Summer games and won gold, silver, and bronze over the years in the timed walking event. Like her husband Rudy, she was a community volunteer in ringette, skiing, church activities, hockey, baseball, and Longlac’s Senior Citizens Club.

Bernadette took an active role with her many grandchildren. Her patience was renowned, teaching them to play cards, cook or ski amongst many other activities. Who can forget her loving smile at the Desaulniers Christmas “Réveillons” hosting dozens of families, friends, and neighbours.

She made a difference with her quiet demeanour and beautiful smile.  She will be greatly missed.

The funeral will be live streamed at www.funeraweb.tv and the family will receive friends at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home, 1411 Hunt Club Road (at Albion Road), on Saturday, September 3, 2022, after 1 pm, followed by a celebration of her life at 2 pm in the Chapel.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/bernadette-desaulniers-10903493

In memoriam donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated.

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