Cecile DeLaurier didn’t always have an easy life, but you would have never known that when speaking with her. Cecile lost her husband in 2004 but didn’t let grief from that loss or other family struggles take away from her kind and loving personality.
Being a mother and grandmother was very meaningful to Cecile and she treasured her family and many friends. She was a regular participant in St. Adolphe Bingo Night and was known to bring much joy and laughter to that event.
Cecile volunteered at the MCC Thrift Store in Niverville for much of the last decade, and that is one of the places where she felt most at home. Cecile was beloved by her fellow volunteers and was often sought out by customers.
According to Gerald Loeppky, manager of the thrift store, a chat with Cecile was always a jovial occasion.
“[The staff] became a big support for her, and she rewarded us with hard work, humour, friendship, and grace,” Loeppky says.
The temporary closure of the thrift store due to COVID-19 was very hard on Cecile, as she missed her friends and the feeling of belonging she got from working there—and unfortunately, in November 2020, she caught the virus and had to be admitted to the intensive care unit at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. There, she remained on life support for several weeks.
On December 2, COVID-19 claimed her life.
Loeppky says that the volunteers and staff of the MCC thrift store grieve her loss terribly and they are so saddened to know that she had to leave this earth alone. They feel blessed to have known her and called her a friend.
“Cecile was a person filled with much love,” Loeppky adds. “She had a strong hope for a better life and future for everyone and extended grace and forgiveness easily. She was full of life and brought joy and peace wherever she could.”
