Obituaries

GAIL TESSIER
   After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Gail passed away at the Grace Hospice in the early hours on Friday, March 18, 2016 at the age of 77 years.   Gail is survived by her loving husband of almost 56 years of marriage, Clifford; three children, Tom (Angela McHugh), Charlene (Henry Verbeek) and Sharon (Curtis MacNeil); six grandchildren, Scott, Kayley, Adrienne, Ryan, Amy and Greg; brothers, James and Ron Horton. She was predeceased by her parents, Tom and Yvette (Plouffe) Horton.   Born and raised in Buckingham, Quebec, Gail enjoyed the outdoors, cherishing her time at the family cottage at Lake O’Neil, where her Father taught her to fish with a stick and a piece of dental floss, and her Mom made Madame Benoit look like a rookie, turning out raspberry pies from an ancient oven many wouldn’t even dare to turn on, for risk of explosion.   Gail, the oldest of three, thrived on the teasing from her brothers Ron and James – although they did send most potential suitors running for the Gatineau Hills, (some wet from water balloons), they could not deter Cliff from winning her heart.   Over the years, Gail surrounded herself with many dear friends from her childhood in Quebec, nursing school at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, the various small towns in Manitoba where she moved every few years with her Mountie husband, work friends from West Park Manor and Deer Lodge Centre, neighbours in Charleswood and finally, Paget Street (the “frat house”).   While Gail loved to dance, curl, travel, go to the Re-Fit Centre, host “get-togethers”, read, and learn (she was always mastering something, from cake decorating to navigating a computer), she was happiest when surrounded by those she loved. Gail was there to help following the birth of all her grandchildren. She was always the rock that her family and friends turned to for sage advice and some laughs, and willingly (on her part) offering awkward advice to her grandchildren on love and relationships. Although Gail loved and was loved by many, she held several people especially close to her heart, including her cousins Joan and Bob, life-long besties Emma and Grace, wonderful former neighbours Peggy, Bernie and Diane, workplace-colleague-turned neighbour Morna, next-best-thing-to-a-daughter Kim, and newest “sister”, Jackie. Gail loved all her friends at Paget Street, the parties in the common room (she was game to celebrate Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, the Grey Cup, morning coffee, Mondays….), and the book club. She and Cliff were overwhelmed by the support shown by their neighbours over the course of her illness, bringing meals, driving her to appointments, and sitting with her for hours on end – purely as gestures of love and true community.   The family would like to thank Cancer Care (particularly Ken) for the many rides to the Health Sciences Centre, Lana, Kim, and the staff at the Grace Hospice for their support and gentle care.   Funeral Mass will be Celebrated on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 4588 Roblin Blvd at Grant Avenue with Msgr. Rev. Maurice Comeault P.H. presiding.   Wojcik’s Funeral Chapels & Crematorium, Winnipeg, 2157 Portage Avenue, 204.897.4665 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com
It may have won the war, but Gail won many battles against cancer over the past ten years, fighting it with the same steely determination that guided her through life, quietly and full of grace. God Bless you, Mum, we will miss your smile and big heart.