Obituary for Cécile Meadows (Dufresne)
November 22, 1937 – December 30, 2022
Cécile Marie Meadows (née Dufresne), our beloved mother and ‘Mémère’, passed away on December 30th, 2022 in Calgary, AB. Aged 85 years, she was predeceased by spouse Wayne (d.2018, her parents Lionel Dufresne and Alma (Lemieux) and in-laws Clare and Elaine Meadows, siblings Lloyd, and Marilyn (Gallipeau). Cécile is survived by her loving sons Wayne Jr. (Rory) and Dean (Karen). Her grand-daughters Anna and Madison were the “sunshine of her life.” Her treasured family includes brother Roger (Hélène) Dufresne along with nieces Nicole, Sylvie and nephew Paul, and in-laws Glenn (Marilyn) Meadows; June (Marcel) Aubin; Ray Meadows and Wendy Meadows.
Cécile was a proud Francophone and a proud Canadian. She was born and raised in the french community of North Bay, ON. As a young woman Cécile matriculated from Couvent Notre-Dame de Lourdes (boarding school) in Sturgeon Falls. She went on to attend teachers college at Ottawa Normal School and began her teaching career in North Bay, then Sudbury — where she met Wayne Meadows, her husband of 49 years! Cécile had a competitive spirit: she wanted top marks, she played her opponents in badminton, bowling, dancing, and of course card games (especially cribbage) to win.
A dedicated educator, Cécile spent 37 years teaching thousands of students in elementary and high school settings (only in cities ending in ‘y’): North Bay, Sudbury, Calgary, Thunder Bay. She especially loved mentoring young students in French immersion and serving as a high school counsellor. Cécile also spent ~10 years of her retirement volunteering at her former school, St Bernard in Thunder Bay. After her long career, it would not be unusual for her to be approached by former colleagues and even students who recognized what an important influence she was on them.
In the early 1980s, Cécile and Wayne moved to Calgary. Mom was always an enthusiastic cheerleader to her boys (and granddaughters) in soccer, basketball, and hockey. The tight games were nerve wracking, no doubt you would hear her voice throughout the arena but on the drive home she would praise not only your play, but your teammates and even opposing players. She made some longtime friends in the stands too — like Lennie and John Jansen — who introduced them to hiking and cross-country skiing. These ambitious pursuits offered fantastic adventures and camaraderie, with delicious potluck meals, and all-engaging debates amongst the beautiful setting of the Rocky Mountains at the Jansen’s cabin.
In the 1990s they moved to Thunder Bay and back to small town living in Northern Ontario. She continued teaching, they bought an acreage in the Lakehead community of Riverdale, grew friendships with their neighbours (especially Ron and Marlene Heinz), and rooted themselves into the community for over 25 years. Cécile was never one to take it easy… she sang in the St Agnes Parish Choir, and the Thunder Bay Francophone Choir, she played competitive bridge, attended local theatre productions and was very active. She walked daily, or rode her bicycle, and in the winter months skied at the local nordic centre, Kamview. In her 70s, she logged 51 ski days in one season! Cécile loved Thunder Bay.
In retirement, Mom and Wayne continued to play bridge and enjoyed travels to special locales like Uruguay, France, Italy, and the Rhine valley. They even tried to be snowbirds in Mesa, Arizona (despite Cécile’s complaints about “the heat”). Summers were spent either visiting or hosting the granddaughters. Cécile nestled into her cherished routines and developed strong ties with other retirees in the ‘lunch bunch’ and ‘Club Cappuccino’. She had a loud and infectious laugh. She was outgoing and personable; she wanted to know everyone by name: the servers at restaurants, the grocery clerks and store cashiers. Friends were so important to Cécile and amongst them her former teaching colleagues, her bridge and social partners — who were all so key in keeping her active social life following the passing of husband Wayne during the winter of 2018.
In 2020, she moved back to Calgary to reunite with her immediate family. Cécile spent her leisure time playing online bridge with Dean and friends, reading novels, deciphering crosswords, admiring the visiting deer outside her window, trying to beat Wayne Jr at Scrabble, listening to orchestral music and taking walks with her cherished friend Heidemarie Haspel (Raimund). To stay connected Cécile dutifully wrote correspondence or spoke with her long-time friends those lifelong childhood connections she’d kept for over 70 years: Irene Pelletier of North Bay, Helen (Chuck) Curr of Sherwood Park, Annette (Gary) Kirby of Kitchener. She loved watching figure skating, Jeopardy, mystery dramas and animals — from her childhood dog ‘Buddy’ to spending time with ‘Rudy’.
Mom’s life lessons as she aged were found in her notes and cards to loved ones — reminding us all to ‘cherish every day’, ‘get outside,’ ‘make time for some R & R’ or ‘prend soin de toi’. Her admiration for others and their activities came from a spirit of kindness and charity towards all persons. Throughout her life she was dedicated to her family, her friends, her Catholic faith, and her profession as a bilingual teacher and guidance counsellor. Ultimately her teachings, inside and outside the classroom, were about treating all with love, dignity and respect, which she modelled through her actions.
We loved her and will miss her immensely.
In lieu of flowers, Cécile and family request that any charitable donations be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Cécile Meadows’ CELEBRATION OF LIFE will take place at St Agnes Church (1019 Brown St - Thunder Bay, ON) On FRIDAY JUNE 16th at 12:10 pm. Any and all friends and family are most welcome to join us in recognition not of her passing but of her full life of charity and giving to others. We appreciate all the well wishes and are hopeful that you may participate. For those who may have difficulty attending - arrangements are being made with the parish to have the service streamed online. A reception will follow to share our memories, laughs, and love for Cécile.
Cécile Marie Meadows (née Dufresne), our beloved mother and ‘Mémère’, passed away on December 30th, 2022 in Calgary, AB. Aged 85 years, she was predeceased by spouse Wayne (d.2018, her parents Lionel Dufresne and Alma (Lemieux) and in-laws Clare and Elaine Meadows, siblings Lloyd, and Marilyn (Gallipeau). Cécile is survived by her loving sons Wayne Jr. (Rory) and Dean (Karen). Her grand-daughters Anna and Madison were the “sunshine of her life.” Her treasured family includes brother Roger (Hélène) Dufresne along with nieces Nicole, Sylvie and nephew Paul, and in-laws Glenn (Marilyn) Meadows; June (Marcel) Aubin; Ray Meadows and Wendy Meadows.
Cécile was a proud Francophone and a proud Canadian. She was born and raised in the french community of North Bay, ON. As a young woman Cécile matriculated from Couvent Notre-Dame de Lourdes (boarding school) in Sturgeon Falls. She went on to attend teachers college at Ottawa Normal School and began her teaching career in North Bay, then Sudbury — where she met Wayne Meadows, her husband of 49 years! Cécile had a competitive spirit: she wanted top marks, she played her opponents in badminton, bowling, dancing, and of course card games (especially cribbage) to win.
A dedicated educator, Cécile spent 37 years teaching thousands of students in elementary and high school settings (only in cities ending in ‘y’): North Bay, Sudbury, Calgary, Thunder Bay. She especially loved mentoring young students in French immersion and serving as a high school counsellor. Cécile also spent ~10 years of her retirement volunteering at her former school, St Bernard in Thunder Bay. After her long career, it would not be unusual for her to be approached by former colleagues and even students who recognized what an important influence she was on them.
In the early 1980s, Cécile and Wayne moved to Calgary. Mom was always an enthusiastic cheerleader to her boys (and granddaughters) in soccer, basketball, and hockey. The tight games were nerve wracking, no doubt you would hear her voice throughout the arena but on the drive home she would praise not only your play, but your teammates and even opposing players. She made some longtime friends in the stands too — like Lennie and John Jansen — who introduced them to hiking and cross-country skiing. These ambitious pursuits offered fantastic adventures and camaraderie, with delicious potluck meals, and all-engaging debates amongst the beautiful setting of the Rocky Mountains at the Jansen’s cabin.
In the 1990s they moved to Thunder Bay and back to small town living in Northern Ontario. She continued teaching, they bought an acreage in the Lakehead community of Riverdale, grew friendships with their neighbours (especially Ron and Marlene Heinz), and rooted themselves into the community for over 25 years. Cécile was never one to take it easy… she sang in the St Agnes Parish Choir, and the Thunder Bay Francophone Choir, she played competitive bridge, attended local theatre productions and was very active. She walked daily, or rode her bicycle, and in the winter months skied at the local nordic centre, Kamview. In her 70s, she logged 51 ski days in one season! Cécile loved Thunder Bay.
In retirement, Mom and Wayne continued to play bridge and enjoyed travels to special locales like Uruguay, France, Italy, and the Rhine valley. They even tried to be snowbirds in Mesa, Arizona (despite Cécile’s complaints about “the heat”). Summers were spent either visiting or hosting the granddaughters. Cécile nestled into her cherished routines and developed strong ties with other retirees in the ‘lunch bunch’ and ‘Club Cappuccino’. She had a loud and infectious laugh. She was outgoing and personable; she wanted to know everyone by name: the servers at restaurants, the grocery clerks and store cashiers. Friends were so important to Cécile and amongst them her former teaching colleagues, her bridge and social partners — who were all so key in keeping her active social life following the passing of husband Wayne during the winter of 2018.
In 2020, she moved back to Calgary to reunite with her immediate family. Cécile spent her leisure time playing online bridge with Dean and friends, reading novels, deciphering crosswords, admiring the visiting deer outside her window, trying to beat Wayne Jr at Scrabble, listening to orchestral music and taking walks with her cherished friend Heidemarie Haspel (Raimund). To stay connected Cécile dutifully wrote correspondence or spoke with her long-time friends those lifelong childhood connections she’d kept for over 70 years: Irene Pelletier of North Bay, Helen (Chuck) Curr of Sherwood Park, Annette (Gary) Kirby of Kitchener. She loved watching figure skating, Jeopardy, mystery dramas and animals — from her childhood dog ‘Buddy’ to spending time with ‘Rudy’.
Mom’s life lessons as she aged were found in her notes and cards to loved ones — reminding us all to ‘cherish every day’, ‘get outside,’ ‘make time for some R & R’ or ‘prend soin de toi’. Her admiration for others and their activities came from a spirit of kindness and charity towards all persons. Throughout her life she was dedicated to her family, her friends, her Catholic faith, and her profession as a bilingual teacher and guidance counsellor. Ultimately her teachings, inside and outside the classroom, were about treating all with love, dignity and respect, which she modelled through her actions.
We loved her and will miss her immensely.
In lieu of flowers, Cécile and family request that any charitable donations be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Cécile Meadows’ CELEBRATION OF LIFE will take place at St Agnes Church (1019 Brown St - Thunder Bay, ON) On FRIDAY JUNE 16th at 12:10 pm. Any and all friends and family are most welcome to join us in recognition not of her passing but of her full life of charity and giving to others. We appreciate all the well wishes and are hopeful that you may participate. For those who may have difficulty attending - arrangements are being made with the parish to have the service streamed online. A reception will follow to share our memories, laughs, and love for Cécile.