Obituary of Monique Claire Marie Boulanger

It is with sadness the family announces the passing of our mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.  Mom passed away quietly at home with her family around her at the age of 84.

She leaves to mourn her daughter Della (Enns), husband Jeff and their children Rachel, Stephanie, Amanda (Ricard), husband Nic and their children Lucas and Madelynn; son Steve, wife Janine, and their children Meghan and Tara; daughter Annette (Moline), husband Andrew, and their children Max, Matthew, and Ethan of Sioux Center, Iowa; daughter Cindy (Gunther), her children Nicole and husband Taylor, and Ashley; and son Nathan, wife Karla, and their children Regan and Drew.

Mom was predeceased by her husband of almost 50 years, James Boulanger, her parents Louis and Bernadine Roberge of Larder Lake, Ontario, and five brothers: Lionel, Jean-Louis, Michel, Omar, and Paul.  She is survived by her wonderful and loving sisters Bernadette, Fleurette, Lucy, Yvette, and Yolande, as well as two brothers, Guy and Bernard.

Mom was born in Verner, Ontario on May 27, 1937.  She lived in a little town called Larder Lake with her 12 brothers and sisters.  Mom met Dad when she was sixteen years old, and they fell in love.  They were married a couple of years later when Mom was 18.  They moved around a lot because of Dad’s work but wherever they lived you can bet Mom would seek the nearest Catholic Church and get involved.  That’s who Mom was.  She lived out her faith by serving the Church and her community.

Mom served the Church all her life.  At a young tender age, she sang in the choir where the entire choir was comprised of her brothers and sisters.  She taught Sunday School for many years, taught catechism classes, and sang in the Church choir.  She was head of Liturgy for many years, which involved overseeing many other ministries, even at 79 years of age.  She would bring communion to the shut-ins in the hospital or their homes.  Mom loved ministering to people.  She had the gift of joy that was infectious.  Mom was also on a committee that was instrumental in getting the Food Bank started in Steinbach many years ago.

Mom loved singing.  She grew up in a family that was very musical, so music was a part of who Mom was.  She was always singing a tune or a jingle. She loved singing in the Church choir with a great gang of gals, bringing her joy and pizzazz and distinctive harmonies to every practice.  She looked forward every week to those practices and from what we heard they used to have a great time together singing, laughing, and just plain having fun.

The funeral service will be held on Monday, February 28, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Christ Our Savior Church, Steinbach, MB., with ash interment to follow at Heritage Cemetery. 

If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, donations in the memory of Monique may be made to Lung Cancer Canada or Salvation Army.

Special thanks to the wonderful health professionals who helped Mom this past year, especially the palliative care nurses who were so kind and compassionate.  Thank you as well to the friends who kept in touch with Mom and who got to share in her laughter almost until the end.

O, let all who thirst, let them come to the water.

And let all who have nothing, let them come to the Lord.