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MADGE CECELIA LETOURNEAU
Born: Feb 05, 1934
Date of Passing: Feb 29, 2024
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryMADGE CECELIA LETOURNEAU
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Cecilia Madge Letourneau, on February 29, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Madge was born February 5, 1934 to Walter Dodd and Marjorie (Shewchuk) in Winnipeg; the eldest of six children and the first-born granddaughter of the Shewchuk family of Ozerna.
Every summer from the age of 6 she was sent to the family farm with her sisters Pat (5) and Winnie (4) for whom she was responsible. Here she learned to speak Ukrainian and translated for her sisters. Their trust in her was immense. Madge treasured her hard-working but free spirited summers at the farm. Life revolved around cousin Marge Sulymka of Newdale, and the four women remained close all their lives.
Madge attended Britannia, Greenway, Daniel McIntyre Schools. In her teens she joined the St. Edwards youth group where she met the love of her life, Gerald Letourneau. They were married 1958 at St. Edward’s church.
In 1960 they bought their family home on Thompson Dr. where they raised Alison, Leanne, Gerry (Jr) and Ron. It was a welcoming home always open to anyone passing through. The same went for the family cottage at Willow Island where generations of cousins spent summers at the lake. In 2009, Gerry and Madge moved to Vasa Lund, shortly before Gerry’s passing in 2010.
Following a series of dull office jobs, Mom discovered she had a talent for crafting beautiful objects and selling them. This led to her opening Hearts & Flowers flowershop, at Edward Carriere Salon in 1976. In the 80s Madge became Manager at the family’s Global Beadery at The Forks Market, working with dozens of young women, beading and selling and nurturing a growing business. She sold her hemp and bead necklaces at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and beyond, enlisting her grandchildren to assist. Everyone thought she was pretty cool.
As Mom, Madge was loving, caring and giving. As Grandma, in partnership with Grandpa, everything was times 10. They were (one of) the reasons a future generation of kids knows how to give and receive unconditional love. She was wickedly funny, sharp and clever, adoring and kind, honest, forthright and rarely sugar-coated anything.
Mom loved long drives on prairie roads, English Gardens, shopping at the Bay, the slots at Winnipeg Downs, Sal’s nips, and most of all the people around her. She cooked a great Prime Rib dinner every Sunday for family and kept homemade butter tarts in the freezer for Chen. She loved to play Scrabble with her sister-in-law Ann and Bridge with those that took it seriously. Mom was up for anything, even when she wasn’t; even joining her grandchildren on a ski trip to Fernie in 2020. Her friends at the end were the friends she had grown up with: from St. Edwards or Air Canada where Gerry worked and on Thompson Dr.
She was a woman of faith, attending St. Paul the Apostle Church and St. Ignatius where she was a member of their Peace and Justice and Refugee Committees. She maintained a private faith all her life, which was a source of strength in her later years.
With grace and gratitude, Madge allowed her last months and days to unfold, even though it was difficult for one so free in spirit to be held prisoner in a failing body.
How lucky we were to have had you with us for so long. Even forever would not have been enough.
Madge was predeceased by her mother Marje Statkewich, her father Walter Dodd and her beloved husband Gerry. She is survived by sisters Patricia and Winnifred, brothers Don, Ken and Christopher; children Alison (Chen), Gerry (Deborah), Leanne, and Ron (Patty); grandchildren Sevan (Daniel), Tal (Adri), Maiya (Evan), Meghan (Devin), Jack, Jarred (Lindsay), Bryan (Tessa) and great-grandchildren Aya, Niv, Amit, Avery, Harper, Isla, and Emery.
A service will be held at St. Paul the Apostle, 2400 Portage Ave., April 19, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life in the church hall.
The family thanks NPs Jane MacDonald, Janna Kingdon and Mom’s companion Marcela Fuente for their warm care.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 16, 2024, Mar 16, 2024
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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Hello Leanne and all of Madge's other children and relations; Thank you so much for mentioning my name as well as Janna's in your Mom's obituary. I continue to have a practice out here in Vernon and even after all these years of being in practice between Wpg and Vernon, your Mom stands out as one of my favourite patients of all time. We entered our relationship tenuously, but it grew into one of mutual respect, and I will always value the trust she placed in me to provide her with care. We had a lot of good laughs and it brightened my day when I saw her name on my line up for the day. I hope these last years for her were comfortable and full of the fun in life she embraced so fully. Maybe she's crafting away in the great beyond, and setting up a table to sell her wares......enjoying the people all around her. I hope you are doing well and thank you again for the privilege of caring for your Mom. Jane MacDonald - Posted by: Jane MacDonald (Madge's Nurse Practitioner) on: Mar 24, 2024
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These words beautifully encapsulate the one and only Madge. She was funny, intuitive, creative, energetic beyond her years, and most of all she cared deeply for all those surrounding her. She had a genuine and sincere interest in what was happening in everyone's life and it wasn't unusual to see her at the bottom of the escalator at the airport when I got off the plane, there to rescue yet another refugee family in need. Seeing her at folk fest each summer with her grandchildren in tow, selling their wares, indeed earned her the title of the coolest grandma in town. I was always in awe of her passion for crafting and the boundless energy she had to attend craft sales every weekend well into her 70's and 80's. Luckily, she left a piece of her unique personality in all of her children and grandchildren and she will continue living through them. She will be immensely missed by all of us who were lucky enough to have known her. My deepest condolences to you all. She was one in a million. - Posted by: Joanne Clark (Family friend) on: Mar 16, 2024
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Sorry for your loss Alison & Chen. - Posted by: Barb Enders (acquaintance) on: Mar 16, 2024