With her children and grandchildren by her side, Anne-Marie Arsenault peacefully departed on May 8, 2023 in Grande-Digue, at her son Richard’s home, the site of countless family gatherings and happy memories. The day before, Anne-Marie managed to gather her family together for one last hurrah, with lobster of course.
Survived by her five children, Natalie, Jeff (Caroline), Paul (late Sylvie Cormier), Richard (Chantal Robichaud) and Marie-Claire (Neill O’Reilly), and her nine grandchildren, Samuel, Isabel, Dominic, Jacob, Charlotte, Isaac, Claire, Danielle and Simon, Anne-Marie was predeceased by her beloved husband of 46 years, Gerald (2015). Anne-Marie’s joy in life was to dote on her grandchildren, and she especially loved to gather her family around the table for her exceptional home cooking.
Anne-Marie is also survived by her siblings Pauline Theriault (late Marc), Don LeBlanc (Monique) and Mark LeBlanc (Janice Goguen), and was predeceased by her parents Jean-Paul LeBlanc and Isabel Maclellan, as well as her siblings Bernice (Fred Goguen), Owen (Rejeanne Dallaire), Claire (Gerry) and Claude (Carolyn).
Anne-Marie spent her life in service to others. Her vocation and gift were to support mothers and babies, as a long-time member and leader with La Leche League. She also helped countless households furnish their homes (and learn to cook with microwaves!) during her career in sales at Eaton’s, Lounsbury’s and Sears. In each of these places, she made friendships that she carried with her forever.
Among the memories her children cherish, there are all the trips to Ottawa, the summers spent at the beach and in cottages, Sunday drives to get ice creams and the occasional fried clam split seven ways.
Anne-Marie enjoyed a very busy and fulfilling social life, from her friendships formed at St. Pat’s, to her love of singing from the heart with la Chorale Notre-Dame and le Choeur Christ-Roi, as well as many outings to concerts of all kinds – music was a fixture in her life. Very proud of her Acadian identity, Anne-Marie loved to decorate her home with les couleurs de l’Acadie. She also enjoyed clever slogans and pithy sayings, finding inspiration almost everywhere she turned.
Her children are forever thankful for the care she received from the friends and family in her final days, many of them sitting with her for hours and overnight, making sure her every need was met. To those of you who were here with us in her last days, we are so grateful.
submitted by Jo-Anne Elder