RITA CECILE LAUZON

It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of our mother Rita Cecile Lauzon on the morning of February 19, 2025. She passed quietly surrounded by friends and family at Concordia Hospital. She was much loved and will be greatly missed.

Rita is survived by her sons, Jacques (Gesche Peters) and Jean-Pierre (Elena Ivanova); grand-children, Evan, Meike, Niels (Kimm Carrière), Maja (Cale Hildebrandt) and Kiril; as well as her great-granddaughters, Eda and Sophie. She will also be fondly remembered by her large and far-ranging extended family.

The youngest of 10 children of Etienne Soulodre and Agnes Bourrier, she was born and raised in Saint-Lupicin, Manitoba. She had 7 brothers and 2 sisters. Marie, Etienne (Steve), Jean, Pierre, Luc, Paul, Michel, Gabriel, Anne and herself. Her father served in WWI for France and her 2 brothers in WWII for Canada. Rita was a passionate French Canadian who cherished her country and upheld her ancestry with great enthusiasm.

She moved from Saint Lupicin to St. Boniface with her mother when her father passed. She married Rene Lauzon in 1961 and had 2 children but was soon separated and left alone with them.

Rita overcame much hardship but with the love and support of her family she persevered for many years before meeting Silver (Silvère) Leblanc. He was a wonderful man and with his love and support helped raise her children until his passing in April of 1993.

Rita was great with numbers and had a remarkable memory right up until her last day. She did the crossword every day and could remember names, dates, birthdates of all of our extend family among other things. It was like a parlour trick. She used that wonderful memory to help people at the front desk of Revenue Canada for over 23 years until she retired at the age of 72.

She had a keen fascination with cars, a passion she attributed to her brothers. She applied this logical understanding later to computers.

Her other passions were food and horse racing. She enjoyed the races at Assiniboia Downs and became good friends with people there. She loved to cook for family and friends or to try new restaurants. She had a fondness for Chinese food and she especially loved the Shanghai restaurant where we spent many wonderful evenings as a family.

Rita was a very companionate person and could often be found helping others. She volunteered at Stony Mountain and she was a member and volunteer at the Norwood legion. She also volunteered at the Tache Nursing Home.

She was a wonderful, giving person. She found strength in her faith but relied on her own persistence and determination which she willingly shared with all of her family and with those who knew her.

As per her wishes no formal funeral will be held. Instead, a private celebration of life will be held this summer on June 22nd, when she will be laid to rest in Saint Lupicin next to Silver.

We would encourage you to leave a message about a special moment you had with Rita, we are she would remember it dearly.

* * *

The Rose Beyond the Wall

A rose once grew where all could see,

Sheltered beside the garden wall.

And, as the days passed swiftly by,

It spread its branches, straight and tall…

One day, a beam of light shone through,

A crevice that had opened wide -

The rose bent gently towards its warmth,

Then passed beyond to the other side…

Now, you who deeply feel its loss,

Be comforted - the rose blooms there -

Its beauty even greater now,

Nurtured by God’s own loving care.

La Rose Fleurit Toujours

Dans un jardin, a l’ombre d’un mur,

Une rose poussait doucement,

Étalant ses fières ramures

aux regards souriants.

Attirée par la lumière

Et profitant d’une large fissure,

La rose peu à peu traversa le mur

Jusqu’à disparaître a nos yeux.

Vous qui pleurez cette perte,

Consolez-vous car la rose fleurit toujours,

Plus belle que jamais,

Dans la lumière du Très-Haut.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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