Annette Marie Van Tassell
November 25, 1944 – September 28, 2020
It is with heartbreaking sadness that my brother and I announce the passing of our beautiful mother, Annette Van Tassell, in La Villa Acadienne, Meteghan, surrounded by so much love, on Monday, September 28th, 2020
Annette Van Tassell, age 75, was born on November 25, 1944, in Digby Hospital. She was a daughter of wonderful, amazing parents, the late Fred and Yvonne (Blinn) Belliveau.
Mom is survived by her loving children, Denise (Mike) McCleave and Jamie (Lori Mosher) Van Tassell; sisters, Rose Marie Gaudet, Jeanette Stuart, Faye (Gustave) Fournier; brother, Paul Belliveau; grandchildren, Karley (Ryan Bedard) McCleave, Michelle McCleave, Ryan Gonsalves, Melanie (Tristan White) Van Tassell, Jodie Van Tassell; great grandchildren, Brooks and Maisilyn; and so many nieces and nephews who she loved, and loved her so very much. They all loved our mom’s smile and laugh, which she will be remembered for every single day.
She was predeceased by her sister, Juliette; brothers-in law, Pat Gaudet, Austin Gaudet, Bernard Stuart; and angel, Baby McCleave.
Annette lived in Grosses Coques until she was 19, and moved to Digby to work at the Power Board, then the Digby hospital. She met and married her husband of 52 years, the late Mason Van Tassell from Digby. My parents loved going to dances in the early years with both his siblings and their spouses and her siblings and their spouses. Jamie and I would make fun of them in later years asking if they owned shares in the local restaurants as they went out to eat all the time.
She eventually worked and became the manager of Margolian’s shoe store in Digby; she loved it there, especially when her boss would bring in some wine for the “gals” on Friday afternoon. After that she went to work for Shirley and Doug Griffen at Needs Convenience Store in Digby, then to Allan Franklyn’s fish plant at Birchstreet Seafoods. She loved her job there, loved the people, and had the best laughs with “the crew” she called them; this is where she retired from, and she didn’t want to when the time came. She was very sad to leave as she loved it there so much. Our mom was involved in the Digby Ladies Auxiliary with the Fire Dept., and she was also involved with the Digby East Fish and Game. She spent many years on a ladies, and couples bowling league in Digby. She also liked to play Bingo, but her true hobby was her love for knitting.
One of the things our mom loved doing was craft sales, and her Rapure pie business from her home. She had her “regulars” who would come in for Rapure and they would stay and have great conversations for hours sometimes. People would end up going home with jams, pickles, slippers, and dish cloths. Our mom was such a generous woman. Mom and her sister, Rose Marie, went to craft sales, then I started going with her every year from Horton down to Middleton. She did the Annapolis Market straight to Meteghan, and everywhere in between.
My mom told me endless stories of her childhood and how wonderful her parents and siblings got along. They had a large group of friends in the neighborhood. My mom and her sisters were completely over joyed when their brother Paul was born. Their family was complete. They all looked after him, dressed him, and took him for walks all the time. One of her favorite things to do was to go to the French shore as much as she could. She would pick up her sister, the Thelma to her Louise, the Wilma to her Betty, Rose Marie. Whether it was going to the grocery store, or at the camp, or sitting at her house knitting, or drinking tea, she was happy. They would have lots of laughs being chauffeured by Ann going to Halifax with both of them sitting in the back seat drinking tea, eating muffins, and knitting. They were best friends who just happened to be sisters. She loved it most when they would go see her other sisters; she loved all of her siblings.
Our mom’s greatest love was her family, she loved all of us so much. When everyone was alive, care free and happy, our mom and all her sisters would gather around the kitchen table at our grandparent’s house and play cards. All of us cousins would be out sitting on the verandah, then would hear an eruption of laughter coming out from inside, and we would all laugh. What we all wouldn’t do to hear that eruption of laughter coming from that kitchen again, just one last time.
One of the things my mom always did was welcome any and all of our childhood friends. She loved a full house, and the more teasing and laughing everyone did, was even better. She would always say, “The more the merrier”. Once someone entered in or home, my mom would love them, and think of them as her own. They were always welcome.
There is no stronger bond than a mom and her children. She loved us with her whole heart, and she loved her grandbabies and great grandbabies. Our parents were so proud of Jamie when he became a volunteer Fire Fighter, then went on to become a Paramedic. They were elated when he received the Medal of Bravery. He will miss the breakfast visits he had with both my parents after his night shifts.
Our families will forever hold many years of memories of Thanksgiving, and Christmas dinners, all of us cramming into that small little house that held eleven of us. My parents never missed getting up early on Christmas day to go watch Jamie’s kids open their gifts. She loved it when Jamie’s family went to visit and our mom snuggled in with her grandbabies watching Disney movies on Sunday afternoons with them.
Karley and I lived in my parent’s basement apartment when she was born. Karley always thought of my mom as her second mom, and their relationship got stronger through the years. My parents came to our house for almost every holiday meal. She went to dance recitals, and cheer competitions; she went to Christmas concerts, graduations, shopping trips, overnight getaways. Our favorite days were the days she just came to sit and visit with me for the day to have tea, share funny stories, have lots of laughs, while she knit her dishcloths, and slippers.
I can’t believe I have to say goodbye to my mom, my best friend. We told each other everything, shared our whole lives with each other. I will miss her until I take my last breath, and get to be with her again.
We would like to thank the amazing, wonderful, loving and caring staff of La Villa Acadienne. Their dedication to our mother went above and beyond anything we ever have expected. Special thanks to Dr. Chandler who was there for me and answered all my questions and was so very kind to me; I will never forget that.
Cremation has taken place under the care of Meteghan Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will be held in Emmanuel Baptist Church of Clare, Belliveau Cove, on Saturday, November 14th, 2020 at 1:00 pm officiated by Pastor Pernell Muise. Graveside prayers will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Church Point. We are asking in lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society of Nova Scotia.
SERVICES
Funeral Service
Saturday, November 14, 2020
1:00 PM
Emmanuel Baptist Church of Clare
HWY 1
Belliveau Cove, NS
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Annette Marie Van Tassell November 25 1944 September 28 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Meteghan, Province: Nova Scotia