BAILLARGEON: In Loving Memory Marie Rosalie Alice Baillargeon who was born June 29, 1920 at Jackfish, SK and passed away March 23, 2014 at North Battleford, SK. Left to cherish her memory are her living children: Emilienne (Lucien) Gougeon, Ile des Chênes, MB, Louise (Bernard) Prince, Battleford, SK, Aline (Raymond) Trudeau, Ile des Chênes, MB, Estelle Baillargeon (late David Smith), Toronto, ON, Charles (Anne) Baillargeon, Meota, SK, Louis (Darlene) Baillargeon, Saskatoon, SK, Omer (Perla) Baillargeon, Saskatoon, SK, Elaine (Kent) MacDonald, Sherwood Park, AB and Gilbert Baillargeon (Kathleen Tesch), Turtleford, SK; son-in-law, John West, Toronto, ON; 36 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; one sister, Thérèse (Jim) Golley; four sisters-in-law: Leona Baillargeon, Louisa Baillargeon, Aline Gagné and Emma Hamel; numerous nieces and nephews. Alice was predeceased by her parents: Edmond and Rebecca Gagné; her husband of 52 years, Eugène Baillargeon; her daughter, Denise Baillargeon; her daughter-in-law, Gail Baillargeon; her brothers: Philippe, Victor, Omer & Leonard Gagné; her sister and brother-in-law, Estelle and Elie Esquirol, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Bernadette and Alphonse Baillargeon, Joseph and Mary Baillargeon, Cécile and Walter Dion; sisters-in-law: Sister Marie Claire Baillargeon and Sister Rose Baillargeon; brothers-in-law: Albert and Paul Baillargeon. Vigil of Prayer was held Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. with Presiders - Gaetanne Beaudoin & Fr. Rocque Concepcion; 1st Reading: Isaiah 25: 6a, 7-9 - Omer Baillargeon; Gospel: John 2: 1-11 - Gaetanne Beaudoin and Prayer Of the Faithful - Elaine MacDonald. Mass Of Christian Burial was held Friday, March 28, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. with Celebrant, Father Gerard Legaspi and Co-Celebrant - Father Peter Passe; both Services from Notre Dame de Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, North Battleford, SK. The Cross Bearer was René Trudeau; Reception Of The Body: Pall: Emilienne Gougeon & Gilbert Baillargeon; Flowers: Charles Baillargeon; Crucifix: Louise Prince. The Eulogist was Estelle Baillargeon. The Altar Servers were Garth MacDonald & Stefan Baillargeon and Liturgy Of The Word was shared by: 1st Reading: Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31- Aline Trudeau; Responsorial Psalm: "The Lord's My Shepherd" - Robert MacKay; 2nd Reading: Romans 6: 3-9 - Louis Baillargeon; Gospel: Mark 12: 28-34 - Fr. Gerard Legaspi and Prayer Of The Faithful - Chantel Kobelsky. Liturgy Of The Eucharist: Gift Bearers - John West & Isabelle West. Music Ministry by Lisa Hornung - Jaki Esquirol, Omer Baillargeon, Corinne Lagace, Notre Dame Choir & Robert MacKay. The Pallbearers were Alain Gougeon, Martin Prince, Paul Philippe West, Marc Trudeau, André Baillargeon &.Rheal Baillargeon. Memorials are requested to Mass Offerings and ROAD - Rescuing Our African Daughters, P.O. Box 47541, Don Mills, ON M3C 3S7. Interment took place at St. Leon Parish Cemetery, Jackfish, SK. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Battlefords Funeral Service. Eulogy Today I would like to share with you a few thoughts about mom. With 93 years to draw on, there is a lot that could be said. We could speak about her humble beginnings, about her love and devotion to her husband of 52 years, about the exhausting and never ending work raising 10 children, about her love of gardening or about her best friend, her knitting in which she poured her love. No, that will not be my focus. Rather, I want to say is THANK YOU, maman, for the privilege of attending the Alice school. At your school we did not learn math or history or languages. No, your school dealt with a much more important subject. It taught values and what a teacher you were. Your teaching method was not merely explaining principles. That would have been much too easy. You taught us by your example because you believed that actions speak louder than words. One of the first lessons I learnt at your school is respect for people particularly the under-privileged and the elderly. Whenever poor people came to the farm you would inevitably invite them for a meal. If there was not enough room at the table for everyone, your guests were seated at the table and your children ate sitting on the floor. You taught us to always treat the elderly with utmost respect. Whenever your father needed a ride, you asked papa to drop everything and to pick up grand père. Your father was a frequent guest for dinner on Sundays. You believed in being kind to the living because praising them in death is futile. You taught us gratitude and you did it in spades. On warm sunny summer days you thanked God for the beautiful weather. You thanked Him also for His wonderful creation. You recognized Him as the author of all that is good and of all blessings. During your stay at the Villa you thanked the staff for everything, your meals, your baths, your medication and the list goes on and on. You had a litany of things for which you were thankful but foremost on your list was always your faith. You realized the importance of faith and valued it above all else. At your school there was much emphasis on not complaining or criticizing. Of that mom you were a master. Even in your later years when your mind was not as sharp, if you were taunted to criticize someone you never took the bait. Your stock answer was IT IS JUST RIGHT. Nor did you complain. God knows that with a bedsore, which at one point tunneled three inches deep and a wrist that was bent sideways nearly 90 degrees you had cause to complain. When we asked about your pain you responded truthfully but you never dwelt on it. Furthermore, you had to be very lonely during the 4 long years you were bedridden, part of which was spent lying facing the wall. Not only did you not complain, despite your infirmities you kept thanking God for your good health. That defies all understanding. Thank you so very much for your exemplary school. May we always follow your example, teach it to our children and share it with our children's children. In one of the gospels last week, Jesus asked us to be merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful, to avoid judging so as not to be judged, not condemn to avoid being condemned, to forgive so that we may be forgiven and to give in order to receive. Upon hearing that reading your name immediately popped into my mind because it describes you mom. You heard Jesus' words and you heeded His teaching. May He now say to you "Well done good and faithful servant.Enter into the joy of your Master". Mom you had requested that Denise deliver your eulogy but unfortunately that is impossible. In an effort to respect your wishes, I will quote from Denise's eulogy for dad with the required slight modifications. I quote, "And now as we say our final good-bye, your departure brings to mind a sea port scene where you are standing on the deck of the ship waving good-bye as the ship begins to sail. We are also frantically waving our last farewell and blowing many kisses your way. We are sad but we keep waving until we can no longer distinguish you on board. We realize that you have a long journey ahead of you but we also know that at your final destination" two people are impatiently waiting for you, le plus bel homme au monde and your dear Denise. The trumpets will blare and the drums will roll when you three finally embrace. You in the company of papa and Denise will, for all eternity, sing Almighty God's praise. Merci beaucoup maman et Adieu. We will remember you fondly. Card of Thanks The family of the late Alice Baillargeon express their sincere thanks to everyone for their support at the time of her passing. We thank everyone who joined us for the prayers at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church and especially to Gaetanne Beaudoin and to Father Rocque Concepcion for leading us in prayer. Thank you to Father Gerard Legaspi for celebrating her Funeral Mass and for your devotion to her over the years. Thank you also to Father Peter Passe for concelebrating. We thank those involved in the music ministry, the pallbearers and to all who played a role in the funeral mass. We thank those who travelled from afar. Thank you for the calls, the cards, the food, the flowers, the mass offerings and all the kind and thoughtful acts. Thank you to CWL for the lunch and to the Battlefords Funeral Service. Thank you to Dr. Lipsett, the nurses and the continuing care aides of the Villa Pascal for their dedication and devotion over the years. In special way we thank the generous supporters of ROAD, a charity that was very important to our mother. The Baillargeon Family _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
