It is with profound sadness that we announce that Gratia died May 12, 2016 with family members at her side at the age of 82 in Mills Memorial Hospital, Terrace, BC.
She was born on a farm in Saint Zenon du lac Humqui on June 24, 1933, St. Jean Baptiste Day, the first of 15 children. She is predeceased by her husband Leo Gerard Cormier 25 years ago. She is survived,
lovingly remembered and missed by her daughters Suzanne (Bob)
Ramsay, Christianne (Bruce) Toms, grandchildren and their families, Nolan (Samantha), Damien & William Ramsay, Amanda Ramsay, Ruby
McDonald, Cori Ramsay, Evan (Mikaela), Camille & James Ramsay, Tyrell Ramsay, Tristen Ramsay, Danielle (Ken) Webb and Alsandair
(Naomi) Toms. She is also survived by all fourteen of her siblings, Francoise
Imbeault, Yvonne Imbeault, Rosaire (Jeanette) Imbeault, Jeanne O’Brien, Marguerite (Louis Marie) Morin, Gabrielle (Paul Emile) Lapointe, Raymond (Lise) Imbeault, Reine (Aurien) Dechamplain, Reginald (Nicole) Imbeault, Joseph (Jane)
Imbeault, Therese (Normand) Lapointe, Ernest (Lina) Imbeault, Claire Stewart, Rose (Alain) Ouellet.
She left the farm in her early teens to apprentice at the Auclair Hospice where she learned many skills that she used throughout her life as a wife, mother and worker. She did everything with purpose, love and caring. If you were related or worked with her you were the recipient of handmade gifts and food. She loved working, it was her play. She loved her BC Ferries family. She loved travelling. One of her pilgrimages was to travel with Leo to Vancouver to participate in Pope John Paul II Mass. Her faith was enormous and it gave her the courage that she exemplified to us. Over the years our family moved many times due to work to Germany, Ontario, New Brunswick, Manitoba and lastly BC. Wherever she moved she dug in and made our homes comfortable. They made new friends that became extended family. She loved visiting us wherever we moved. She drove across Canada to be with family as often as she could take the time off. She always had a dog or a cat at home and enjoyed when others gifted her with stuffed and ornamental animals. She loved participating in therapeutic riding for four years. In the words of one of her friends “she was a petite lovely lady who was so strong”. How aptly said, she believed in doing what is right. After being afflicted with Parkinson’s’ she found her life changed and her advice to all of us was do what you enjoy while you still can and love each other. May God Bless her and keep her safe.
Viewing of the body at 10:15, Funeral Mass at 11:00 on May 21, 2016
at Sacred Heart Church, Terrace, BC, Father Xavier. SAC Celebrant, Terrace CWL hosting reception following.