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SUZANNE MULAIRE
Born: Jan 12, 1954
Date of Passing: Feb 18, 2025
Offer Condolences or Memory Make a donation to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation
SUZANNE MULAIRE
After a lengthy illness, and with her family by her side, Suzanne Rita Mulaire passed away peacefully on February 18, 2025, at the age of 71 years. Suzanne is survived by her spouse of 46 years, Jeffrey Harris, her children Lise Pinkos (Kale), Gaetan Harris and Chantal Harris (Corey Reynolds), her grandchildren Spencer, Marianne and Théodore, her siblings Paulette Beaudette (Andy), Lorraine Taylor, Jocelyne Kowaski (Ken), Natalie Mulaire and Jean Mulaire (Ruth) as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Jean-Baptiste and Lucille Mulaire and her niece and nephew, Angela and Ian Bland.
The youngest of her family, Suzanne was born and raised in St. Pierre-Jolys, Manitoba. She attended the University of Manitoba where she earned a B.A. and a B.Ed., leading to a long and rewarding career teaching Kindergarten and primary grades, mostly in the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine.
Suzanne was a proud Franco-manitobaine and sat on the boards of the Festival du Voyageur and le Cercle Moliere. Teaching was her passion and her students benefitted from her dedication and creativity. She spent her evenings working at the dining room table marking, cutting, coloring, preparing and creating projects and lessons for her students, who remembered Mme Suzanne long after they left school. Suzanne always worked to instill a strong sense of pride in the French language in her students, her children and her grandchildren.
Suzanne’s joy was her family – nothing was more important. She was the primary driver to the Y for swim, dance and leadership classes and supported the kids in any venture that they wanted to try. When the kids were small, she spent hours crafting with them, often testing out projects that she wanted to try in her classroom.
Suzanne’s favourite place was the cottage at Lester Beach. Preparations for the summer at the cottage were completed early so that Suzanne and the kids were on the road on the last day of school. There she remained until it was time to prepare for the start of the next year. It was not uncommon for Suzanne to spend full days at the beach with the kids and end the day with a spontaneous bar-b-que with a couple of other beach families. Lifelong friendships grew from summers at Lester Beach. In the later years, Suzanne had a vegetable garden at the cottage, where she spent countless hours nurturing, weeding and pruning her crop to get the best out of it.
Suzanne loved to entertain, from dinner parties to kids’ birthday parties to soup nights, and of course, the legendary Lobster Feasts. No opportunity was missed to bring people together and celebrate and she never spared any effort in making each event special. Kids birthdays were 3-part events – a party for the kids and their friends, one for the whole family, with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and, of course, a special dinner to mark the actual birthday date. Christmas dinners were also particularly special events and never never small – it was not uncommon to have four tables set up for a sit-down dinner, followed by a living room dance party.
Always the teacher, Suzanne was not content to prepare and serve a dinner or make soups. She usually planned and organized a game or two for the group. The Mulaire and Harris families will remember her Christmas bingo-calling fondly. Competition for her carefully selected prizes was fierce.
Carrying on her own mother’s traditions and despite the hectic time with the return to the classroom in the fall, Suzanne always found time to make more pickles, jams, pasta sauces and salsa for the ensuing year than we could possibly consume. Guests around this time usually left the house with a jar or two of the current year’s production.
After her retirement, she and Jeff started to travel. Together they travelled to Italy and France where they cycled and went on food and wine tours, to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Belize, Honduras and Costa Rica for the sun, to Ireland to meet family and to Korea for the 2018 Olympic Games.
Retirement also gave her the time to learn to knit, something that she had long wanted to do. It was then that she found a like-minded group of women, the “Knit Wits”, to share her love of knitting. Suzanne treasured the times that the Knit Wits got together, although very little knitting was actually accomplished during these get-togethers.
While she dedicated herself to her kids while they were growing up, she turned her attention to her grandchildren when they started to arrive. Grand-maman could not do enough for Spencer, Marianne and Théo. From playing, crafting, reading and baking, to caring for them on sick days and taking them to dentist appointments, she played a major role in their lives. They loved being at the cottage with her where they learned the joys of the beach that their mothers had when they were young. They were a crowning glory for a life-well lived.
Suzanne fought hard over the past 2 years but ultimately lost her fight with cancer. We were very fortunate to have the amazing support of Cancer Care and finally, Palliative Care as we waged the battle with her. With that support, Suzanne was able to remain at home until the last week of her life. We are grateful for their care.
A Celebration of Life for Suzanne will be held in Buhler Hall at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on Monday, March 3, 2025, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. (use the Group entrance). In lieu of flowers, Suzanne asked for those so inclined to make a donation to CancerCare Manitoba.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 22, 2025
Condolences & Memories (17 entries)
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I was lucky to get to work with Suzanne at École Lacerte and to teach her lovely grandchildren. Sending you all my condolences - mea sympathies a vous tous. - Posted by: Chantal Courcelles Lancaster (Colleague) on: Apr 21, 2025
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Our condolences to the family and all mourning the loss of Suzanne. Rest in Peace. - Posted by: Penny Maurice Roy (Friend) on: Mar 08, 2025
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My sincerest condolences to the Harris and Mulaire families. As a secretary to Jeff for the past few years, I spoke and text with Suzanne on occasion and we had a very nice lunch date a while back. She was a very kind and loving person. My heart goes out to Jeff and your family. She will be missed. XO - Posted by: Tammy Mulligan (Friend to Suzanne and Jeff) on: Mar 01, 2025
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Suzanne, a beautiful soul. Never forgotten. - Posted by: Joanne (Knitting friend) on: Mar 01, 2025
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Toute notre sympathie à toi Jeffrey, Lise,Gaétan et Chantal. On se souviendra de Suzanne,celle qui a toujours su y mettre tout son coeur dans les tâches du jour comme épouse et mère de famille, sans oublier une carrière remarquable comme enseignante. Suite à cette vie bien remplie, repose en paix chère Suzanne. Guy lemoine et Johanna - Posted by: Guy Lemoine (ami de la famille) on: Feb 28, 2025
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Jeff, Lise, Gaetan, Chantal and families. Our heartfelt sympathy on the passing of Suzanne. We remember Suzanne as such a kind, giving person, full of joy for life and love of family and friends. She touched so many lives in a positive way. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time - Posted by: Kevin and Loretta Kivisto (Friends) on: Feb 28, 2025
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Very saddened to hear of Suzanne's passing, condolences to Jeff and his family and to the Mulaire's family - Posted by: Randy Kehrer (friend/neighbor of the Harris family) on: Feb 26, 2025
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Dear Jeffrey Harris and family - so very sorry to learn that Suzanne passed away. We met 20 yrs ago when Suzanne was a volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society. I always appreciated our opportunities to catch up. With my move to the HSC Foundation it was wonderful to reconnect. Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of this exceptional woman-she leaves a legacy of love! Please know that my thoughts are with you at this sad and difficult time. Sorry for your loss. Take care. Lynda Ruban - Posted by: Lynda Ruban (staff at the HSC Foundation) on: Feb 24, 2025
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My deepest condolences! Suzanne was such a kind, wonderful woman! I have great memories at Lester Beach, family parties, doing our road trip to Vancouver Island in 1993, and the other times our paths crossed when I would return to Manitoba! Your family is in my prayers as you celebrate and honour the life of a wonderful woman! - Posted by: Melissa Guzik (Family friend) on: Feb 23, 2025
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Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. RIP - Posted by: Linda Asper and family (Neighbour) on: Feb 23, 2025
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We spent many happy times together over the years, before and after children and grandchildren. The world will be an emptier place without Suz! Lots of love and hugs to Jeff and family, and everyone who loved Suzanne. - Posted by: Susan Funk and Mike Terpenning (Friends) on: Feb 23, 2025
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My condolences to Jeff and family on the loss of Suzanne. She was such a friendly, ambitious lady and I admired that immensely. Her love for family and especially the grandchildren was so inspiring and her love of keeping herself in fit shape and exercising I admired. Keep all those special moments and memories close to your hearts. She will be missed so much by so many family and friends. - Posted by: Linda Gladstone (friend) on: Feb 23, 2025
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My condolences to Jeff and family, to the Mulaires family. Suzanne and I taught in Ste. Agathe, we traveled together from Saint Boniface for many years. I was at their wedding and had such a great time. - Posted by: Noella Gauthier (Frienr) on: Feb 23, 2025
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Notre belle Suzanne, qui à chaque Noël nous rappelait l'importance de la famille et nous envoyait une belle carte photo avec un petit message. Repose en paix chère cousine! - Posted by: Mariette Mulaire (cousin) on: Feb 22, 2025
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Jeff, Lise, Gaetan et Chantal, Nos sincères condoléances - our sincere sympathies - Suzanne: a great lady, a great wife and mother, a great TEACHER / un professeur qui a toujours eu l'intérèt de ses élèves à coeur. Qu'elle repose en paix et veille sur sa famille. - Posted by: Rachelle et Jean-Maurice Lemoine (Friends) on: Feb 22, 2025
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My sincere condolences to Jeffrey and his family. I have great memories of teaching with Suzanne. Her parties were the best. Thinking of you in those difficult times. - Posted by: Denise Perron (Fellow teacher) on: Feb 22, 2025
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Nos sincères condoléances à toute la famille. Nous avons eu le plaisir de travailler avec Suzanne pendant plusieurs années. Une femme joyeuse et authentique qui prenait à coeur ses relations avec ses élèves et ses collègues. Son rire et son sourire étaient contagieux! Repose ma paix chère Suzanne! - Posted by: André et Monique Mireault (Friend) on: Feb 22, 2025