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VALERIE GILLIS Obituary pic

VALERIE GILLIS

Born: Aug 25, 1931

Date of Passing: Aug 20, 2023

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VALERIE GILLIS

(nee DUBOIS)

August 25, 1931 - August 20, 2023 Motherhood:

All love begins and ends there.

- Robert Browning


Valerie drew her last breath at Action Marguerite Saint-Vital on the morning of August 20, 2023.

She will be deeply missed and remembered with love by her children, Renée (Peter), Judy (Robert), Michael (Linda), Cheryl (Mike), Lisa (Gino), and Val…who all taught her how to have patience.

She will be forever adored as Grandma/Jama by Christopher (Renee), Stephanie (Steve), Jessica (Brad), Mikey (Sheri), Leah (Eric), Joelle (Scott), Philippe, Tessa, Julienne (Olivier), Eric, Stephane, Cristelle (Cal), Emma (Oliver), and Zoé…who all taught her how to have fun.

She will be remembered by her great-grandchildren, Alexander and Bennett, Michael-Tyler, Zachary, Xander, Faith, Elmer, Jesse, and Theodore…whose photos continued to bring her moments of joy in her last years. The family will keep her memory alive in little Sofie, born the day before her death, and soon in the eagerly awaited Bébé Boots.

Valerie was predeceased by her siblings, Eva Bétournay, Pauline Fitzmaurice, Emile Dubois, and Rosemarie Rogers, grandson Tomas Marcoux, and husband Rene Gillis.

She will be mourned by her sister Angèle Scouras and sister-in-law Janet Van Elslander and their families. Ma tante Val/Auntie Val will also remain in the hearts of all the members of the Bétournay, Fitzmaurice, and Dubois clans.

Valerie was an outstanding teacher with many accomplishments, including an award of excellence from the St. Boniface School Division, where she taught for over 40 years. After graduating from the Institut collégial Saint-Joseph, she completed Normal School in 1950 and began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in Ste. Agathe. In 1951 she started in St. Boniface as a Grade 2 teacher at Marion School with 38 students. In the years that followed, many more students learned and grew under her thoughtful and caring guidance. She was a superb colleague, mentor, and friend to all the teachers she worked with throughout her career. She retired from classroom teaching in 1995, but she continued, with her friend Lucille Phaneuf, to offer teacher workshops and work on a new Manitoba French curriculum at the Bureau de l’éducation française.

In her later years, Mom was unable to speak clearly, but she communicated love and recognition to her family with those startling green eyes, and we all knew that the memory of her heart remained strong.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26, at the Cathédrale de Saint-Boniface, followed by a reception at 2:30 p.m. at Glen Lawn Funeral Home and Cemetery, 455 Lagimodière Blvd.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba or to an educational agency of your choice.

You will stay in our hearts forever, Mom, and may you rest in peace.

Family and friends may sign a

book of condolence at www.desjardinsfuneralchapel.ca

Salon funéraire Desjardins

Funeral Home

204-233-4949

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 02, 2023

Condolences & Memories (5 entries)

  • Que de beaux souvenirs ai-je de Valérie:son savoir, sa curiosité intellectuelle, son charme et son élégance indéniable. Valerie fut pour moi une inspiration du point de vie professionnel. Repose en paix Valerie. Mēs sincères condoléances à sa famille. Mireille Auclair - Posted by: MIREILLE AUCLAIR (Collègue) on: Oct 11, 2023

  • Toutes mes condoléances à toute votre famille. J'ai vraiment apprécié travailler avec Valérie pendant de nombreuses années à l'école Guyot. Je garde un très bon souvenir de sa gentillesse et de son grand professionalisme. - Posted by: Danielle Ivory (collègue) on: Sep 03, 2023

  • We were close in age and stayed in touch during our youth and I have many good memories of tante Marie-Anne’s and oncle Valère’s Dubois family during those years. Valerie and her family are such good people and good looking, too! When I married in 1954 in the Cathédrale de Saint-Boniface, my American husband Robert took me to his station in Elgin Air Force Base in Florida. I regret that Valerie’s and my lives went in different geographical directions so we lost touch with one another. Valerie remains fondly in my thoughts. My sincere condolences to the Gillis and all her extended families. - Posted by: Germaine (Dubois) Harding (Cousin) on: Sep 03, 2023

  • Beautiful obituary! All is true! Valerie was a joy to work with. I met her at École Guyot and worked with her many years. She was welcoming, warm, knowledgeable, encouraging to all students and co-workers. My sincerest sympathy to all who knew her. - Posted by: Saurette Yvette (Teacher colleague ) on: Sep 03, 2023

  • Mes sincères condoléances à votre famille pour la perte d'une si bonne personne. J'ai revue Valérie lors de son séjour à la Résidence Despins. J'ai enseigné avec Valérie et à sa fille Valérie à l'école Lacerte. Je garde des ces deux individues de très beaux souvenirs. Hélène McCarthy - Posted by: Helene McCarthy (Amie) on: Sep 02, 2023

Desjardins Funeral Home

Desjardins Funeral Home

357 Des Meurons St. (Map)
Ph: 2042334949 | Visit Website

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