Autumn Lea Mombourquette
The family of Autumn Lea Mombourquette would like to thank everyone who has helped us through a devastating year. Amanda, Peter and big brother Jack are particularly indebted to our immediate family who helped us maintain an around the clock bedside vigil after our little princess suddenly fell ill. Autumn's parents, grandparents (Peter and Anne and Eric and Dorothy MacDonald), her uncles and aunts never left her side as they prayed for a miracle that was never to come. Autumn's family are grateful to everyone who attended her funeral especially those who traveled from Cape Breton to attend. Autumn's parents truly appreciate the love and prayers they received from their family and friends, the faculty, staff and administration from Mount Saint Vincent University, the teachers and staff from Kingswood Elementary school, their neighbors on Gorsebud Close, Peter's hockey friends and everyone from McGraw-Hill. Amanda, Peter and Jack truly appreciate the efforts of Chris Neville, Tara Peach, Justin MacKenzie, Karen Blotnicky, Jim Macaulay, Jeff Young, Kevin Saab, Scott Daniels and the Horyl family who did more than they could of ever asked. The family would also like to offer a special thank-you to all staff of the PICU unit at the IWK Health Centre, and Father Greg O'Neil and all the parishioners from Saint Benedict's Parish. Autumn was a beautiful baby and brought great joy to everyone during her short life. She smiled at a young age, often at her big brother Jack who she so adored. She loved sucking her thumb, going for walks, playing with her toes, sitting up by herself, spending time in her car seat, and watching and listening to her Dada's silly songs. But most of all Autumn loved her Mama - she would immediately brighten whenever her mother entered into the room and would first ask and then insist on being picked up by raising her arms. Her Mama always accommodated her every wish and Autumn spent hours upon hours being carried by her mother, happily sucking her thumb, smiling mostly with her eyes, as she watched her brother and father play. Autumn will forever be remembered as Mama's little princess, for her wonderful smile which you sometimes had to work to see, her love of the ABC song, the constant look of amazement in her eyes as she watched her brother play and how much happiness she brought to everyone. It is hard to imagine that a little girl will ever be missed more. Autumn's parents still cry daily as they dream about their little angel and her brother Jack talks constantly about how much he loves and misses his little sister. There are no words that exist which can describe losing a child especially one as innocent and beautiful as Autumn. Those wishing to do so can leave online wishes to Autumn's family at www.jasnowfuneralhome.com and Halifax's Ronald McDonald House is taking donations in Autumn's name where a room is being dedicated in her honour.
"Before the first stars blazed in your sky,
before the sun ever kissed you,
before you cried your first cry, we loved you...
You burst upon our world like a comet,
Like birdsong in the silver silence of dawn,
And oh, how we loved you!"
