It is with sadness in our hearts that we announce our mother has left the game table of life. Everyone who knew this master of all contests, Carmen Gauvreau, will certainly know what she enjoyed: cards (especially thirty-one), Viking chess, dice, Bingo, Lebanese cuisine, Orange Crush, and country music. However, we also know she’ll definitely not be missing deep snow, mosquitoes, dangerous drivers, and especially not Steve Harvey.
Seriously, though, to those for whom she has cooked and cared for over the 80 years of her life, it is our belief that saying she loved us was not enough. Rather, through her generosity, she wanted us all to know how she felt. Carmen lived by this motto, after all: What you say is one thing, but what you do says everything. She has always been a do-er, and, though her body was aging and tasks became more difficult, her genuine love for family and friends gave her reason to persevere, ignore the pain, and do whatever she could do to brighten our days.
The journey of Carmen’s life, from 1942 to 2022, was quite an adventure. She was born to John and Yvonne Gauvreau and into a very large family where they all looked out for each other and developed deep, unwavering bonds that would last a lifetime. To Roddy, Ronald, Nelson, Gino, Marjorie, Annette, and Corinne, and to all her extended family and friends, we hope you’ll continue to think of our mother when you play the games she loved to play. To Jerome, Hector, Vernon, Elmer, Ray, Dennis, Leona, Pauline, Claudette, and Beatrice, get the card table ready, because your extremely competitive sister is on her way. Some day, you will all be sitting at the same table together laughing, cackling, talking over one another, and carrying on like you used to in your younger days.
Carmen’s pride and joy were, of course, her four wonderful children, Danny (Christine Byerlay), Darlene, Carol (David Henschel), and Bryan (Sandra Coe). Though it is painful for her children to lose their sweet mother now, her body told her it was time to go, and it’s hard at Carmen’s age to argue with a body that refuses to cooperate. She never took for granted the help and support provided by her daughter, Carol, and her favourite son-in-law, David, who would be there for any repair or decorating project, shopping excursion, or medical appointment. Weekly family meals were enjoyed by everyone; she made all of us laugh with her games table antics, and we always looked forward to witnessing her scream for joy when she kicked our behinds and rubbed our faces in our numerous losses.
Carmen was also blessed with seven grandchildren. Adam, Carter, Daelin, Tyler, Avery, Brooklyn, and Kenadie, she was beyond proud of you and loved you all dearly. Be sure to keep your sweet grandmother close to your heart, and in that way, if you need her, she won’t be far away.
As a final message, Carmen’s children would like to acknowledge what seems to be a dark spot in the course of human history. Our hope is that we can all find and encourage within ourselves, and within each other, those gifts that make each of us special. Our mom used her gifts to the best of her ability; we hope all those who knew her well would agree. We don’t have to possess star power or intellectual or physical prowess to be valuable to each other. Sometimes, what we need most is just to feel loved and cared for by a simple, extraordinary, beautiful human heart like the one our beloved mother had within her.
Family and friends will be personally notified of Carmen’s celebration of life.
Donations can be made to North Bay Humane Society in Carmen’s honour.
BUFFAM LEVEILLE FUNERAL HOME
Haileybury, 705-672-3122