Beatrice “Bea” (Robichaud) Monette
1933-2021
Monday, May 24, 2021 – Beatrice
“Bea” Monette (Robichaud), age 87, the youngest of
17 children born to Gilbert and Marguerite Robichaud (Girouard) in St.
Wilfred, New Brunswick. A proud Acadian, an immaculate housekeeper and
a wonderful home cook, she couldn’t pass a crab apple tree
in the fall without wanting to snag the fruit for a batch of
crab-apple jelly. She was famous for her meat pies, her bottled
spaghetti sauce and her rum-soaked fruitcakes. No one could leave her
house without a basketful of goodies, and her generosity and
insistence on filling everyone to the brim was her way of showing her
love.
Bea loved to
tell stories of her early years working and living in the home of the
Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Leonard O’Brien, where
she developed her culinary and hospitality skills. She always spoke
fondly of Mrs. O’Brien’s affection for the girls
who worked for her, and how she often turned a blind eye when Bea and
the girls snuck out to go dancing, often coming home in the wee
hours.
In 1956, Bea
and one of her sisters, May went on a fateful double date with two
handsome Airforce soldiers from nearby Chatham, and within a year both
couples were married! Ross Monette remained the love of
Bea’s life until his passing in 2006. Together, Bea and Ross
lived a life of adventure, travelling abroad to France, where two of
their children were born, spending summers at the family cottage in
Lac Schryer, Quebec, travelling home to New Brunswick to St. Wilfred
to visit family, and living throughout their years in Chatham, Borden,
Lower Sackville, New Glasgow, until finally settling in the Annapolis
Valley.
In her later
years, Bea found love, friendship and deep companionship with Larry
Porter, her fellow Blue Jays fan and day tripper. Never a day went by
that he wasn’t there. They could be found together
gardening, visiting friends or family, attending senior’s
club events, or just laughing at 70s sit-coms late into the
night.
Bea is
forever and fondly held in the hearts of her children , Debbie (Frank)
Godin, Bathurst, NB; Marc (Michelle), Souris West, PE;
Roger (Theresa), Saskatoon, SK; Louise (Jean),
Montpellier, QC; Suzanne (Shaun) George, New Minas, NS; Ross
(Kimberley), Coldbrook, NS; grandchildren, Keith, Allison
(Dave), Danielle (Jeremy), Diane (Mathieu), Rachael (Kyle), Kory,
Hillary (Scott), Jessica (Cameron), Zeph, Oriana and Taliah; and
great-grandchildren, Abigail, Élizarose, Riley, Emmerson
and Blake.
The family
would like to thank Dr. Ben Sabine, Dr. Lori Burgess, Palliative Care
Nurse, Paulette Gash and the VON for their professional and
compassionate care.
Cremation
has taken place. A celebration of Bea’s life will be planned
for her family at a later date. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted
to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.
Donations can be made to Palliative Care of Annapolis Valley or VON.
Online condolences and inquiries may be directed to www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com
or directly to the family at sunmoonstars@eastlink.ca.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Beatrice Bea Robichaud Monette 19332021..
Death notice for the town of: Kentville, Province: Nova Scotia