Caroline “Anne” Valiquette
November 17, 1937 – January 9, 2022
It is with grateful hearts that we announce the passing of Caroline “Anne” Valiquette on January 9, 2022. Born November 17, 1937. Any sadness in her passing is tempered with the knowledge that she was surrounded by love and family through her life and until the very end.
Born to George and Annie ‘Nancy’ (Sullivan) Wilson, she was predeceased by her sisters, Audrey, Joan, and Sharon.
Anne really had four big chapters in her life. In the beginning, she grew- up in the east-end of Toronto, in an extended family of card players who were boisterous, witty and very close. Her sisters were her best friends. She married very young and ended it just as quickly. Moving on to the next big chapters of her life.
In 1966, Anne married Jim McKenzie, a widower, and inherited three children, Sandra, Michele and Jim who all fondly remember instantly gaining more grand-parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. The family moved several times before settling in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Despite her young age, Anne did a wonderful job raising two exemplary citizens and one noisy rebel (it is left up to the reader to determine who was who). She was stylish, ran a tidy ship, sewed prom dresses, wrestled with a wringer washer, loved her dog, Hector and worked at Jacobson’s selling women’s clothing. She did not tolerate neighbourhood gossip, viewed all complaints of illness with a highly suspicious eye and was known for a razor sharp wit. She did an incredible job with very little and earned the life-long love and admiration of her Nova Scotia family.
In the mid-80’s, Anne headed back to Toronto to live with sister, Sharon and to care for her Mom. It was there she met and married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Valiquette. Over the next 30 years, Anne and Bob built a beautiful life in Niagara Falls, making great friends and travelling in their RV, reconnecting with Anne’s sisters, nieces, nephews and extended family.
In 2019, Bob passed at the age of 90, and Anne travelled back to the East Coast to be close to her Nova Scotia family, Sandra (Wade Furey), Michele (Chris Witkowski), and James (Colleen nee Janes). “Grams” is lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Nicole (Louis Cho), Philip (Kristina Collins) and Danielle d’Entremont; Evan, Jenna and Connor (Brianna Merritt) Furey; and Brooke and Blaire McKenzie. She loved, and was loved, by her many nieces and nephews and their extended families. Very special mention must go to Merlin the cat, who was, without a doubt, Mom’s favourite child. He is now enjoying a bidding war on who gets to foster him.
Anne taught us a lesson that we have carried all our lives. She was a living example of how to show-up when people need you, even when it is hard. Especially when it is hard. In the end, we are so very happy to have had the opportunity to care for her, like she cared for us, and to thank her for her love and sacrifice. Her strength of character is both a touch stone and a bench-mark for our family.
According to her wishes, cremation has taken place. She will be interred with Bob in Toronto at a future date. A family gathering will be held at that time. Condolences may be sent to www.dartmouthfuneralhome.ca ………..”.
The family wishes to thank the staff of the Berkely Bedford, who went above and beyond to care for Anne over the last few years. Special thanks to Emergency Services, the staff at the Cobequid E.R., QE2 E.R., and the Palliative nurses at the V.G. You were the way-finders on Mom’s final journey and there are really no words to say how much we appreciate you. The system in Nova Scotia may have some cracks, but the people who work in it are golden.
If so desired, a donation can be made to a charity of your choice. In Anne’s memory the family encourages people to reach out to someone that made a difference in their life and thank them.
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind”
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Caroline “Anne Valiquette November 17 1937 January 9 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Dartmouth, Province: Nova Scotia