Never a more gentle, kinder, sweeter soul would you ever meet. Henriette (Henri) Germaine Lamoureux (Belland) passed away January 28, 2020 with her family never leaving her side 24 hours a day since fracturing her hip January 9, 2020. Henri was 9 days away from departing to Austria to go watch her grandsons play hockey. She left this world forever as a hockey Grandma extraordinaire. We knew her as GG, a confidant, an advisor, a cookie dealer, who always had a gentle hug, a kind word, a soft touch of her hand and never ending love and support for her family; albeit there was a significant personality change if any referee dared put her grandchild in the penalty box.
Henri was born in St. Paul, Alberta to Noelle and Louis Belland and was raised in Bonnyville where her father owned the Central Hotel. After earning her teachers certificate in 1950 she taught grades 1 – 9 in a one room schoolhouse near horse Hills, Alberta. She was provided lodging across the highway from the school where she met her future husband, Dr. Maurice Lamoureux, who was returning home from completing his Veterinary degree in Guelph. This is where their love story began. Maurice would lovingly go light the fire at the schoolhouse every morning to make sure Henri and all in her charge were warm and cared for. He never stopped loving and caring for her for 67 years until his passing last year. Hard as she tried, her heart was broken and we are all happy that they will be together again. They raised 5 children together in Fort Saskatchewan and at their summer cabin at Moose Lake, Alberta where so many wonderful family memories continue to be made. Sad not to be with her are, Marc (Barbara) who kept her happily in homemade wine , Guy (Terry Gagne) medical adviser and forever the voice of reason, Louise Lamoureux who was her side kick and constant company every day for the past 10 years, Jocelyne Lamoureux (Glen Marko), personal assistant, clothier and decorator and Pierre (Linda) geographically distant but amazing close with heartfelt letters, phone calls and a yearly pilgrimage with his large family to Moose Lake. Mom, Grandma, GG spent many hours in Hockey rinks, gymnasiums and sporting fields supporting her family in every one of their activities. It kept her in stories to tell until her death. She leaves behind 17 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren with always another one pending. Each of us have been rocked to sleep or soothed to the sounds of her beautiful singing of Too Ra Loo Ra an Irish Lullaby or a reading of Robert Munsch “I’ll Love You forever” her favorite book. If you were in the room with her, you felt you were the most important person in the world. That was her gift. She was predeceased by her husband Maurice, grandson Louis, siblings Joan Moreau, Marielle Witton and Andy Belland and is survived by Louise Brosseau, Agnes Donnelly and Jean-Paul Belland.
You were blessed if you knew her so please join us in celebrating this beautiful woman’s’ life on Friday February 7, 2020 at the Our Lady of Angels church in Fort Saskatchewan at 2:00 pm. Reception to follow at the Fort Saskatchewan Legion. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Roots of Change Foundation P.O. Box 92, St. Albert, AB T8N 1N2.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Henriette “Henri Germaine Lamoureux nee Belland January 28 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta