Aurelie Hanisch Zachary, 93 (nee Bellavance)

Born on a farm in Radville, Saskatchewan, to Antoinette (Dionne) and David Bellavance, Aurelie’s grandparents were supporters of Louis Riel and, as a result, were offered homesteads. They were also assigned the name “Bellavance” at that time, to conceal their identities. Aurelie died peacefully in Camarillo, California at the age of 93. She was the last survivor of 14 children of Antoinette and David.

Aurelie ventured from Saskatchewan, to Vancouver, B.C., at 22 years old, where she worked in the shipyards and met her first husband, Arnold Hanisch. They had a daughter and lived in Vancouver until 1960, when they moved to El Segundo, California for a business venture, and thrived for 19 years. Arnold died at age 50; after seven years she married Glenn Zachary. When Glenn died, she moved to Leisure Village in Camarillo, California, in 2002 and was a multiyear and multi award-winning artist in the Ventura County Fair. Her career spanned from Rosie the Riveter, to Bookkeeper, to Entrepreneur, to Real Estate Agent to Art Teacher. She got her AA college degree at age 55. She had good genes, a positive attitude, and above average health until the end. She was living the life she chose, and was at peace when she passed, in an aura of love.

She is survived by her only child, Trischa Hanisch Bennett, a widow, who lives in Pasadena, California.