CLAUDETTE FLORENCE MARIE VANDAL

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CLAUDETTE FLORENCE MARIE VANDAL Suddenly but peacefully, on Friday, July 18, 2014, Claudette Florence Marie Vandal passed away after a short battle with cancer. Though she knew her days were numbered, Claudette's warrior spirit kept her feeling positive, full of courage and that spunk never left her soul. Claudette lived an interesting and exciting life after being born in Morris, Manitoba on September 20, 1941. At a young age Claudette and the family moved to St. Boniface where she enjoyed her young years as a school girl and then as an employee in places like the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. When Claudette was 20 years old she married and began her own family, staying here in Winnipeg for several years then moving the family to Vancouver, BC. Claudette loved the beaches, mountains and giant trees of the west coast and stayed there growing her family until she separated from her husband Louis. A little bit older and a little bit wiser, she felt the need to move back to Winnipeg to be with her close siblings, friends and her aging father. Throughout her years in Vancouver and Winnipeg, Claudette's time was spent indoors and out, hiking, skiing, learning judo and she even tried paragliding. While traveling and exploring the world, Claudette loved music and concerts, enjoyed all sorts of foods and many kinds of art. This very spiritual woman enjoyed collecting books as she loved to learn and discuss the words and ideas she read, often incorporating them into her own life. Claudette was known to be a free spirit, a little eccentric, a little wild and always proud. She never hesitated to say what was on her mind and even in her final days she was sharp and quite alert. Claudette leaves to mourn her passing her children: Destry Galgoczy, Louis Galgoczy and Nicole Galgoczy; her grandchild Danielle Galgoczy; her last living sibling Suzette Bungay (nee Vandal); many family members, and of course many, many special friends. The family would like to thank the staff at Seven Oaks General Hospital, especially Jorge Pegado, Spiritual Care Coordinator Rev. Helen Holbrook, Spiritual/Cultural Care Provider Betty, and the superb staff in the Palliative Care Unit at the St. Boniface General Hospital who cared for Claudette in her final days. Funeral services will be arranged with invites to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Leprosy Mission Canada, www.effecthope.org Mosaic Funeral Services in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 26, 2014