MAZEROLLE, Eva Viola (née Brun)

After years of consulting the obituaries in The Sudbury Star on a daily basis, I can finally declare that my name was in print on its pages. I was happy to have had the opportunity to celebrate my 90th birthday last month but early this morning on Tuesday, May 11th 2021, I bid you all farewell and give you one last big hug and kiss. I’m leaving you to be reunited with my first husband, Victor Mazerolle, my second husband and companion, Wilfred Digby, as well as my son-in-law, Ronald Martin.

To my children, Gisèle Martin (late Ronald), Joanne Quagliara Mazerolle, Yollande Nepssy (Danny), Lise Mazerolle (Glenn Ryckman) and Conrad (James Lamore), I will always be in your hearts and memories. Rejoice in your memories of me with my grand-children: Russell, Curtis, Vanessa, Chantal, Darlene, Mathew, and my great grand-children: Félix, Alexie, Lia, Emily, Nathan, Sue-Anne and Daniel so that when you’re missing me, you can share with them the stories of my life; our trips together and our family gatherings, to celebrate in good company with good food and a glass or two of wine. Instill in them the love of life, the importance of friends, the love of reading a good book, the art of painting, playing golf, gardening, a good party, the adventure of travelling and exploring this great big world. I love you all very much and would like to thank you for the helping hand you’ve offered me on this journey we call life. I wish you all a long healthy and happy life. May you continue to gather together to celebrate each other in joy and laughter.

I was born a proud Acadian in Bas Cap-Pelé, New-Brunswick in the spring of 1931, the 8th child of a family of 13 children of my late mother Élise Landry and late father Emery Brun, who always said that I was the prettiest. I’m happy to be able to join my late brothers and sisters in heaven: Lorraine, Léoline, Alfred, Aimé, Omer, Adrice, Maria, Aline, Armand et Régis. Laurida and Romuald, we will be waiting for you, but don’t rush it, you still have a lot of time to enjoy good feeds of lobster and nun-farts. Have some for me!

As a lifelong educator of over 44 years. I started teaching in a one room schoolhouse in Dupuis Corner, New-Brunswick where we had to take down the crucifix from above the door when the superintendent came to do his visits. I moved to Sudbury in the early 50’s and taught in Dowling, then in the schools of Hanmer that belonged to the French separate school board. I taught various grades and was a guidance counsellor before being asked to work in special education for the same board where I assumed the leadership of the department as Director of Special Education until my retirement. You can say I’ve always held the success of my students close to my heart, but particularly those with learning disabilities. I’ve welcomed students from across Northern Ontario into my home so they could get the services they justly deserved here in Sudbury. I also instituted and worked at a day program for many years during the month of July to facilitate activities for children with physical and learning difficulties. During the summers, if I didn’t teach qualification courses for the French Teachers College here in Sudbury and across Northeastern Ontario, I was completing courses to obtain my bachelor’s degree from Laurentian University and my master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Ottawa.

It has been an integral part of my life to be at the service of my community. In the schools where I taught, I organized fundraising events for year-end school trips, extracurricular and sporting activities. With the help of fellow Maritimers, I co-founded the Acadian Reunions at my church and also sat on the St-Jacques Church parish committee. In the Greater City of Sudbury, I was a member of various boards of directors for different organizations: Valley East Community Action Network, Centre de Santé Communautaire du Grand Sudbury, Multicultural Society of Sudbury, Librairie francophone and l’Association France-Canada. To keep active during my retirement, my focus was on helping retirees live a full and happy life. As a board member, secretary or president of the French Golden Age Club of Hanmer (CCAOV) and the Northeastern Federation of Francophone older adults and retirees of Ontario (FARFO) and as a board member of the provincial FARFO, I helped organize programs that enabled older francophone adults to enjoy social, recreational and educational activities that taught them the art of growing old. I also assured a francophone representation on the Seniors Advisory Council of Greater Sudbury.

Due to times being what they are, I am sorry to announce that I will have a funeral service for my immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, I invite you to donate to the Maison McCulloch Hospice in my memory. I hope you can join my family in a celebration of my life to be held later in the year once the pandemic is under control.

I wish you well and know that I love you all very much. I will continue to watch over you from above.

EVA xo

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Cooperative Funeral Home, Sudbury. www.cooperativefuneralhome.ca