Obituary of Lucille-Marie-Jean-D-Arc Kirouac

Lucille Marie Jean D'Arc GATES March 16, 1922 - December 1, 2008 GATES Lucille Marie Jeanne D’Arc Mum’s death occurred peacefully on December 01, 2008 with family members in attendance, in her 87th year. She was the daughter of the late Victor and Juliet Kirouac. The widow of Leonard Kenney Gates. We have had a long good-bye as Mum’s Alzheimer’s progressed. It is due to the care and attention paid to her primarily by daughter, Patricia Cook and caregivers Sondra Lewis and Betty Wilkins, that we have had our many happy moments with her. It is due to the care and attention of son, Peter Gates, that she was able to maintain her home life. Kenney, Peter and Patricia made a promise that they kept no matter what the toll. Lucille, a good convent educated girl, met her Merchant Sailor in Montreal shortly before he was captured in the Indian Ocean by the Germans during the WWII. She managed a lingerie shop in Montreal before working for the Canadian Car Company, inspecting war planes. Only a tiny mite of a girl could fit into the nose of the air craft to make sure they were properly constructed. Their romance progressed through a series of letters and they in due course married in Montreal and then moved to Leonard’s home town – Saint John. After the birth of their children Richard (Mavor), Kenney (Enid), Peter (Linda) and Patricia (Gary), Lucille began work as a manager and buyer for the lingerie department of Calp’s in Saint John and later in Fredericton as well. Lucille found time to be involved in many activities; she was a charter member of the Jarvis Bay Legion; a president of the Business and Professional Women’s club; she was a French language translator who taught her neighbor Rod Logan to speak French. She loved to sail on the St. John River, to travel, to sing and to dance. She was her children’s little Gorf. She delighted in the nickname until one of her friends spilled the beans and told her to spell it backwards. Lucille has had many loves in her life, her grandchildren were especially important. She delighted in being a good grandmother to Leonard Gates, Shawn & Jenney Gates, Mathew & Trevor Cook, and Aaron Gates and by loving choice John Real Deschenes; as well as, Gina, Doug, Cindy and Tom Gates. Great grandmother of Dakota, Jesse and Morgan Gates, Jenna & Emily Gates, Annika Ucci, Emma and Callie Cook. Mavor, Enid, Linda and Gary could not have had a better more welcoming mother-in-law. Lucille was predeceased most recently by her “sister by choice”, June Naves. Lucille touched the lives of many people, her smile and “I love you” will be sorely missed. Resting at Castle Funeral Home, “Fallsview Chapel”, 309 Lancaster Ave., Saint John West, (634-1701) visitation will take place on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 and Thursday, December 04, 2008 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A funeral service will take place on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. from St. Jude’s Anglican Church. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Donations, may be made to: Juvenile Diabetes Alzheimer’s Society or St. Jude’s Church