Louise Ricard

Louise Elizabeth Antoinette Ricard

(December 2, 1937 – September 13, 2017)

Peacefully on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at the Portage General Hospital of Portage la Prairie, Louise Elizabeth Antoinette Ricard, previously Rossiter, (nee Haegeman) passed away at the age of 79 years.

Widow to David Joseph Ricard of St. Ambroise, MB.

Louise is lovingly remembered by her four children Therese Rossiter, Gerard Rossiter, Anna Rossiter and Kathleen (Colin) Rossiter. Her Step Children; Shirley (Clarence) Allard, Martha (John Gray) Ricard, Marcel Ricard, Wayne Ricard, Louis Ricard.  Her grandchildren; Justin, Troy, Brittany, Dominick, Jarred, Ashley, Gabriel, Travis, Audrey. Her great granddaughter, Maci.  Sister Eleanor Morden, and her sons; John Bjorn & Allen Morden. Her sister Cordelia Brown.  Her Cousin Peter Okilita, her many other family relations; Haegeman – Dufault – Rossiter, lifetime friends the Uzelman Family, and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Predeceased by her parents Elizabeth (nee Dufault) Mueller & Constant Haegeman and her brother Roland (Marge) Emile Anthony Haegeman, her first Husband; Gerald (Pam) Phillip Bruce "Jerry" Rossiter. (Feb.19, 2017)

Louise was born in the City of St. Boniface during the “dirty thirties”, when children really did walk 5 miles to school and back through 3 feet of snow… (No paved roads or snow plows). She learned at a very early age to be self-reliant and innovative with whatever resources and materials were available to her. “Mrs. MacGyver” as we affectionately often referred to her, existed way before there was ever a TV show about ingenuity… or TV’s, for that matter. Her resilience & often stubborn nature (or in her words…highly developed, yet clever leadership skills) allowed her to achieve the impossible.  The saying “Jack of all trades, and master of none” did not apply to Louise, she was a perfectionist and dedicated to doing her best at everything she attempted in life. If someone told her that it could not be done, she would make it happen.  She was always cooking enough food for her kids and the neighborhood kids, sewing them clothes and costumes, baking enough to share with everyone who stopped in for a coffee and a care package to take home. She never was one to burden you with her troubles, instead she would put her records on or her 8-tracks, and she would sing and dance while doing what needed to be done. She always found a way to point out the silver lining in a cloud of darkness.

Throughout her life, Louise was a member of many social clubs & non-profit events; the Girl Guides Club, the Belgian Legion in St. Boniface, the Army Navy & Air Force, the 65th Legion in Portage Prairie, the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary, The Herman Prior Centre, the Ladies Bridge club, the Portage Handivan board, the Salvation Army Christmas Hamper program and the Ladies Bowling league. She attended St. Hyacinth’s until its closing.

“…this life is but a moment in time, and it too shall pass.”

Memorial Service and celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at 1:00pm at Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church led by Father Gerald Langevin.

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Louise Ricard’s memory to the Portage Family Abuse Prevention Centre, Box 1541 Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3P1 or to Canadian Diabetes Association,200-310 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0S6.

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