Laurette Mary Rose Cloutier fell asleep peacefully in death on Dec. 08, 2014 at the Swift Current Care Centre. There will be a Memorial Service on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses at 545 North Service Rd. W, Swift Current, SK at 2:00pm. William Burgess officiating.
Laurette is predeceased by her parents, Henry and Grace Gagnon; brother, Alfred (Jeannie) Gagnon; sisters Kay (Gil) Lucier; and Yvette (Arthur) Cloutier. She is lovingly remembered by her brother Aime (Rose) Gagnon; daughters Clare Mitchell; Yvonne (Ron) Joyal; Rita McLachlan; and Leona (Norm) Douglas; as well as 9 Grandchildren, 21 Great-Grandchildren and 1 Great-Great Grandchild.
Laurette was born in LaFleche, Saskatchewan on June 27, 1924. In 1930 the family moved to Meadow Lake where she grew up on the farm. When she was 17, she moved to Saskatoon and attended a dressmaker's school. Shortly after that she took a job in Nutrition Services at St. Paul?s Hospital in Vancouver. She met her future husband Jean Cloutier there and they were married in 1946. Shortly after being married, they moved to Windsor, Ontario where their first two daughters were born: Clare Grace and Yvonne Marie. Then Jean and Laurette moved to Florida in 1952, where two more daughters were born: Rita Marie and Leona Marie.
Laurette had aspirations of a career in clothing design and practiced her skills on her four daughters. Many commented on the beautiful outfits she made for them over the years, everything from remaking her satin wedding dress into bathing suits to prom dresses. All without patterns. She eventually took a job as a seamstress in a posh dress shop by the balmy public beaches of Delray Beach, Florida.
In 1971, Laurette made her way back to Saskatchewan. Bringing her youngest daughter with her, she started a new life for herself in Dodsland as a Nurse's Aid at the Dodsland Union Hospital. Many commented on the kind, compassionate care she provided to both the young and the elderly. She also worked at Babiuk's Meat Locker and forged a close friendship with the owners, Alex and Fran Babiuk. Laurette also worked at the Kindersley Nursing Home before retiring in 1985. In her retirement, she enjoyed gardening, crocheting, visiting her children, being taxi for her friends, and of course, providing a temporary shelter for wandering cats and dogs in the community. Laurette developed many close friends in Dodsland during the 40 years that she lived there. Laurette's health deteriorated in 2009 and then moved to Swift Current to be close to family where she received care at the Prairie Pioneer Lodge and the Swift Current Care Centre which will be remembered as a loving, caring environment. It will always be appreciated.
We look forward to the time when Rev. 21:3-5 will be fulfilled and can see our mother again.