GISELE JEANNETTE SOUQUE

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GISELE JEANNETTE SOUQUE December 15, 1953 - May 15, 2018 Gisele passed away peacefully at the age of 64, after a strong fight against cancer. Gisele was predeceased by her parents, Alice and Gaston Souque, and first husband Danny Lavallee. She is survived by her husband Ron Epp; children, Jeramie (Hayley) Lavallee and Melissa Lavallee (Jason); siblings, Jean (Janice), Guy (Fiona), Yvette (Bill), Irene (Jim), Raymond (Mona), Pete (Bonnie); stepchildren, Jason (Loraleigh), Marlese (Chris) Hazeu, Corrie (Johan) Heinrichs, Matthew (Nancy) Epp and Nathan (Maria) Epp; 21 grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces. Gisele was born in Carman in 1953, the sixth child in a close family of seven children. Raised on a farm just north of the village of Haywood, Manitoba, she and six brothers and sisters joined in lots of work and play with neighbours and friends. She attended grade school in Haywood and graduated from high school in St. Claude. After graduation, Gisele travelled to Alberta and BC visiting family and friends, spending a few month in Naramatta, BC at a Christian, hippyish centre, where she learned to meditate and strengthen her communication and sensitivity skills. She worked at various jobs, including a sawmill and driving huge "rock buggy" trucks. In 1976, she travelled to New Zealand, meeting Yvette and Bill in Christchurch for Christmas. Then off to Australia for a few months. In the late 1970s , Gisele moved to Gillam, in northern Manitoba for several years, working in the hotel industry and rising in positions and responsibilities due to her management and people skills. Danny Lavallee, singer, chef and CN worker, came into Gisele's life. They married in Haywood and, in 1980, Jeramie was born. Melissa was born a year and one half later and Jeramie became a loving and protective big brother. Within the next year, Gisele and Danny moved to Thunder Bay. Gisele worked part- time as a florist capitalizing on her artistic skills. She also worked part-time with the Ontario government. She was 'rear-ended' at a stop sign one winter day and sustained a back injury which bothered her for years. The family soon moved to Winnipeg - living in Oakbank - being close to Gisele's family, and, while her sisters lived out of province, all three sisters kept in touch and celebrated their birthdays at Christmas. Mom and Dad and four brothers were in Haywood, as was the large extended family. This gave Jeramie and Melissa the opportunity to get to know their cousins and relatives on both sides of their family. Gisele started working with the Federal Government in Winnipeg, initially Navigation Canada, followed by Parks Canada and later Agriculture Canada for the rest of her career. Gisele took many courses to build her skills and knowledge. She also worked very hard to gain the experience she needed. Her success and skills led to many promotions - mainly in the Human Resource field. Ultimately, she achieved the position of Director-Human Resources, Agriculture Canada (West). In 1994, Gisele was awarded the commemorative Medal of the 125th anniversary of Canada by the Governor General of Canada for her outstanding contribution to her country. Typically Gisele, she thought others should have received it before her. Gisele was highly respected by her staff, her colleagues and superiors and she made many strong and lasting friendships in her work and life in general. Meanwhile in 1988, we lost Gaston - our father and in 1993, our mother Alice died. By then Gisele was on her own, raising Jeramie and Melissa. Being in Manitoba, with the family close-by was helpful for the small family. Gisele was always strong and all these challenges seemed to strengthen her further. She was asked to move to Ottawa a number of times within the Federal Government and offered good positions, but she insisted on staying in Manitoba with her family which was her priority. Eventually, it meant that she had to travel to Ottawa and various other places across the country for work. By then Jeramie and Melissa were older and building their own families. Gisele was always intentional about how she lived, and this quality inspired her to join the support group 'Beginning Experience'. It was here that she met the love of her life, Ron Epp. They served together at the BE programs and took dance lessons together. As dance partners they became the best of friends and decided to share the rest of their lives together and were married in 2007. Gisele's love expanded to Ron's children and grandchildren, and she thoroughly enjoyed spending time with all of them. She loved them all as her own and encouraged all of them to be themselves and live their best lives. Gisele retired in the spring of 2016 and, in that awful irony of life, was diagnosed with terminal cancer less than a year after her retirement. Throughout her illness and decline in health, she determined to be positive and seek ways to learn every day of her life, so that she could continue to inspire others. She will be remembered for her legacy which was to help others become fully the person they already are. We lost her too soon. She is and will be missed always. A celebration of Gisele's life was held Friday, May 18 at 1:00 p.m., at McIvor Church, 200 McIvor Avenue, Winnipeg. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gisele's memory may be made to Women Refreshed at the Well. This obituary may also be viewed at www.friendsfs.ca.
Publish Date: May 19, 2018

GISELE JEANNETTE SOUQUE December 15, 1953 - May 15, 2018 Gisele passed away peacefully, at the age of 64, after a strong fight against cancer. Gisele was predeceased by her parents, Alice and Gaston Souque, and first husband Danny Lavallee. She is survived by her husband Ron Epp, children, Jeramie (Hayley) Lavallee and Melissa Lavallee; siblings, Jean (Janice), Guy (Fiona), Yvette (Bill), Irene (Jim), Raymond (Mona) and Pete (Bonnie); stepchildren, Jason (Loraleigh), Marlese (Chris) Hazeu, Corrie (Johan) Heinrichs, Matthew (Nancy) Epp and Nathan (Maria) Epp; 21 grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces. A celebration of Gisele's life will take place Friday, May 18 at 1:00 p.m. at McIvor Church, 200 McIvor Avenue, Winnipeg. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gisele's memory may be made to Women Refreshed at the Well, available at the service. This obituary may also be viewed at www.friendsfs.ca
Publish Date: May 17, 2018

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 17, 2018, May 19, 2018