Marie-Thérèse Théona Savoie
(nee Charpentier)

Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Daughter and Friend.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our mother Thérèse (Terry) on June 7, 2020. She is predeceased by her husband Victor, son Philip, mother Alice, father Jean-Baptiste, brothers Siméon, Robert, Jean-René and sister Annette.

She will be dearly missed by her daughter Louise, son David, brother Gaston, daughter-in-law’s Nancy and Linda, grandchildren Emily, Nicholas, Joshua, Courtney and great grandchildren, Sophia, Mya and Quinn.

Mom was born in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. Her family later moved to Ottawa, Ontario where she met her husband, Vic. They married in 1957 and together, raised their 3 children.

Mom was a devoted wife and mother. She had strong morals and values and loved unconditionally. A caregiver to many, she always put others before herself. Everyone who met her, loved her. An angel that touched so many lives.

Grandma was proud of her grandchildren and loved them very much. Each one of them held a special place in her heart. Times with Grandma were always special and the memories are many.

An avid bowler, her talent brought her to western Canada to compete in the national finals. She loved walking, especially with Robyn, her golden retriever. She sang in her church choir and enjoyed participating in church socials. Mom discovered her appetite for travel when we, as a family, were posted to Israel. She was interested in learning other cultures and languages. A devout Roman Catholic, she was intrigued with visiting the Holy sites she so often heard of during Sunday mass. Mom’s travels continued during her retirement where she visited both Venezuela and Spain.

She had a distinguished career with the RCMP as a civilian member. One of her proudest moments was when she was personally recognized by members of the Ottawa Police for identifying the finger prints that assisted them in successfully solving their case. She retired in 1996 with over 25 years of loyal service.

Later in retirement, mom was diagnosed with severe Alzheimer’s Disease. A devastating disease that took away her memory and independence. Although her journey was long and very difficult, her strong spiritual beliefs gave her the strength and determination to travel her journey with such grace and dignity. Although Alzheimer’s Disease stole her memory and her independence, it did not steal her sense of humour. No matter how much she struggled or how big the challenge, mom’s beautiful smile was shared with many. She is and will always be a true inspiration to all who knew her.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Romain Muboyayi for his professionalism and compassion. His respect for mom and his understanding of her specific medical needs significantly contributed to her ability to maintain her dignity and self-respect. Also, we offer our sincere appreciation to the health care team on both the La Pommeraie and Allée des Tulipes units at the Montfort Long Term Care. Both the medical and personal care mom received enriched her quality of life and well-being while in their care. You truly were mom’s guardian angels.

The family also extends their sincere thanks and gratitude to Dr. Andrew Frank of the Bruyère Memory Disorder Clinic for his continued support and compassion he provided to mom and her family since 2011 when she was first diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment. We will be forever grateful to him for his unwaivering devotion and commitment to maintaining mom’s dignity and well-being during her very long and challenging journey with Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Mom, we thank you for your unconditional love, support and devotion you gave us throughout our lives. Thank you for the so many precious and wonderful memories we will cherish. Thank you for entrusting me, your daughter, with your care. It was a privilege and never a burden, to be by your side as we traveled your journey together. Your love for us and our love for you will forever live on in our hearts. It gives us great comfort, to know that you are now in eternal peace in dad’s arms.

The Funeral Mass will be held at Ste-Marie Roman Catholic Church 4831 Innes Road, Orléans, on Friday, October 2, 2020 at 1 p.m.

Due to the rise in active COVID-19 cases and the associated health risks, the family has decided to air on the side of caution and host mom’s funeral virtually. With that said, we invite you to join us to celebrate her funeral mass livestream by clicking on the link below. Please note the link will be activated at 12:50 p.m. EDT.

In order to watch the service, please click the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86295562942

If you've never used Zoom before and use a Windows computer, please follow the instructions here: https://www.bates.edu/helpdesk/2020/03/23/how-to-zoom-downloading-and-installing-the-zoom-application-prior-to-your-first-zoom-meeting/

If you've never used Zoom before and use a Mac, please follow the instructions here:
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/203020795-How-To-Install-on-Mac#h_8137f88b-d9fe-45af-8d56-e8239f2a86cf

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Thérèse’s memory to the Bruyère Foundation.