Louise Christine (Johns) Hogue

August 28, 1914-June 2, 2011

“To the world, she was but one woman. But to us, her family, she was our world”

Our cherished Mom, Louise, slipped gently from this world into the waiting and loving arms of her beloved husband, our dad, Aimé on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at the age of 96, almost 97 years old, at the Whitemouth Personal Care Home.

When we couldn’t be there in time, God sent Mom’s Guardian Angels. Her “bonus daughters”, Phyllis Hapko and Jane Steinleitner, were with her on her final day. At the time of her passing, Marlene’s dear friend, Aline Cormier, was by her side.

Left to mourn her passing and cherish her life are her two special daughters: Faye Louise Hogue Ormsby (Bill) of Nanaimo BC; and Marlene Aimée (Hogue) Oussoren (Gord) of Gibson’s Landing, Sunshine Coast, BC; her five awesome grandchildren Dianne (Doug) of New Westminster, BC, Perry (Michele) of Burnaby, BC, Lisa (Lance) of Nanaimo, BC, Sean (Jacqueline) of Ottawa, ON and Trevor (Kylie) of Robson, BC; her nine wonderful great grandchildren Jennifer and Tommy of Vancouver, BC, Kimberley, Kyle and Alicia of Burnaby, BC, Owen and Leo of Ottawa, ON, and Jonah and Nolan of Robson, BC and two sisters in-law Louise Dawyduk of Winnipeg, MB and Emma Hogue of Sudbury, ON as well as numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends. Louise was predeceased by her loving husband of 59 years Aimé in 1996 at the age of 84 and by all her siblings.

Louise means “warrior” and indeed she was that.

She was born on August 28, 1914 in Winnipeg, MB and at the young age of 20, on Halloween night in 1934, left for the unknown mining town of Bissett, MB, accessible only by boat and plane. To start on this 2-day journey, Louise boarded a boat called the “Newton”, from the Alexander dock in Winnipeg to Manigotogan and then onto a smaller boat to Curry’s Landing. This was followed by a truck ride to Bissett, specifically to the San Antonio Hotel where she worked for a couple of years. Then it was back to Winnipeg and then to Red Lake, ON for about four months.

Bissett beckoned once again (for a good reason) on January 18, 1937 to once again work in the same hotel. Our Dad, a handsome Frenchman, arrived on January 30 (his birthday), 1937 (this is the good reason!) to work in the same hotel. They were married six months later on August 28 (her birthday), 1937. Life in Bissett was always a very special time for Mom.

Mom was a stay-at-home mom whose first house was in the bush somewhere and then a two-room log cabin in town near the school. As a couple, they occasionally worked and lived at the hotel, as relief for the owners (first Rowes’, Perry’s and Kalyn’s).

Louise, in 1958, was employed by the post office, working as an assistant Post Mistress and telephone operator. In fact, she was the last telephone operator when the mine closed in 1968 and Bissett became a Ghost Town. In 1969, Aimé moved to Lac du Bonnet, MB, working for Tantalum Mining Corporation and Louise followed in 1970. They lived on Tanco Crescent at first. After Aimé retired on June 25, 1983, they moved to Leslie Street where Louise remained until she was 94.

At that time, October 14, 2008, Louise moved to the Whitemouth Personal Care Home where she made many new friends while still treasuring lasting friendships she had made throughout her lifetime.

Church and community work were always top priorities for Louise. She was always a dedicated and hard worker for church events and fundraisers, an enthusiastic bingo player and helper, an excellent curler (skip) and drawmaster for many years; an avid vegetable and flower gardener, winning many trophies and horticultural ribbons. Above all, she was the best Mom and Granny anyone could hope to have.

Louise’s family expresses sincere appreciation to the extremely caring and dedicated staff at the Whitemouth Personal Care home for their compassion, kindness and excellent care of our Mom and Granny during her two and a half year stay.

We would be honored if you would join us in a celebration of our Mom’s life on Saturday, June 11 at 11:00 a.m. at Sobering Funeral Chapel, 1035 Park Avenue E., Beausejour, MB., with Father Jose Montepeque of Notre Dame du Lac Catholic Church, Lac Du Bonnet officiating A luncheon will follow in the Beausejour Room, Brokenhead River Community Hall, Beausejour, MB. Interment will follow in Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Avenue W., Winnipeg, MB.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Louise’s memory may be made to The Whitemouth Personal Care Home, Recreation Dept., 75 Hospital Street, Box 160, Whitemouth, MB, R0E 2G0 or CNIB, 1080 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3G 3M3.

Mom died as she lived: with love, dignity and a most generous and thoughtful soul.

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