Madeleine Laurent
Madeleine Laurent passed away peacefully on July 12, 2024, on the eve of her 76th birthday. She took her final breaths surrounded by her husband, children, and grandchildren.
Madeleine was born on July 21, 1948, in Havana, Cuba, to the late Tomas Delfin Laurent and Lilia Dubé.
We will have a celebration of life on
At the family home at
1275 Ave Suzor-Côté
Quebec
Sunday July 21, 2024, from 13:00-16:00.
A memorial service will be held on August 3rd, at the Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures Church, at 14:00.
‘Madi’ was the heart of her family. Besides Paul, her beloved husband of 56 years, she is survived by her children: Jean-Daniel (Maude Lebel), Michel (Marie-Claude Giguère), Catherine (John Borkowski), and Marie-Hélène (Juan Matkovic). She also leaves behind her precious grandchildren, whom she adored with an uncommon maternal fervor: Alexis (Joanie Gagnon), Mathieu, Léanne, and Lily Bussières; Laurence, Philippe, and Marianne Bussières; John-Alex, Zara, and Emma Borkowski; Édouard, Alexandre, and Milan Matkovic.
Madeleine will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by the numerous members of the Bussière family, as well as all her nephews, nieces, dear cousins from her Laurent and Dubé families, including her brother Carlos D. Laurent (Daisy Santos).
She is preceded in death by her youngest brother Emilio Anastasio Laurent. She will also be missed by her colleagues, fellow teachers, and many friends whom she left with regret.
Born in Havana in 1948, Madeleine had a happy but strict childhood, typical of the Cuban bourgeoisie of the time. At just twelve years of age, she left her parents for the United States with her younger brother Emilio. Some have insinuated that, at the dawn of Operation Peter Pan, the purpose was to escape the turmoil of the communist revolution. Others have instead mentioned that it was initially intended as a simple trip to visit family in Miami. In any event, a year later her father arranged from Cuba another move, this time to Canada, specifically to the religious community of the Sisters Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary in Quebec. Five years later, she married her husband Paul, who remained devoted to her until the end. Transitioning from the tropics to the outmost reaches of the Quebec Arctic, she worked as a teacher and raised her young children in the Inuit communities of Salluit and Kuujjuaq, returning to and settling permanently in Quebec City ten years later. There, she continued her teaching career at Quebec High School and Rochebelle International High School.
She devoted much love and resources to help and bring out several members who remained in Cuba, including her brother Carlos, who was just a baby when they were separated forty years earlier.
She touched the hearts of everyone she met with her authenticity, deep sensitivity, and natural affection. She encouraged academic achievement, loved teaching Spanish to her grandchildren, entertained everyone with her piano skills, and enjoyed traveling with her family. Her warmth and energy were matched only by her culinary talent, influenced by Cuban traditions yet uniquely her own. These qualities undoubtedly helped in keeping her children and grandchildren close.
She would have wished to stay among her loved ones for just one more day, but she passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family and radiant until the end.
The family warmly thanks the Integrated Oncology Center at the Enfant-Jésus Hospital, particularly Dr. Sebastianelli, as well as the palliative care department at the CHU who compassionately accompanied her until the end.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the CHU de Québec Foundation in her memory.
For information:
ATHOS
Telephone: 418 686-8811
Fax: 418 686-8813
Email: [email protected]
Madeleine was born on July 21, 1948, in Havana, Cuba, to the late Tomas Delfin Laurent and Lilia Dubé.
We will have a celebration of life on
At the family home at
1275 Ave Suzor-Côté
Quebec
Sunday July 21, 2024, from 13:00-16:00.
A memorial service will be held on August 3rd, at the Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures Church, at 14:00.
‘Madi’ was the heart of her family. Besides Paul, her beloved husband of 56 years, she is survived by her children: Jean-Daniel (Maude Lebel), Michel (Marie-Claude Giguère), Catherine (John Borkowski), and Marie-Hélène (Juan Matkovic). She also leaves behind her precious grandchildren, whom she adored with an uncommon maternal fervor: Alexis (Joanie Gagnon), Mathieu, Léanne, and Lily Bussières; Laurence, Philippe, and Marianne Bussières; John-Alex, Zara, and Emma Borkowski; Édouard, Alexandre, and Milan Matkovic.
Madeleine will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by the numerous members of the Bussière family, as well as all her nephews, nieces, dear cousins from her Laurent and Dubé families, including her brother Carlos D. Laurent (Daisy Santos).
She is preceded in death by her youngest brother Emilio Anastasio Laurent. She will also be missed by her colleagues, fellow teachers, and many friends whom she left with regret.
Born in Havana in 1948, Madeleine had a happy but strict childhood, typical of the Cuban bourgeoisie of the time. At just twelve years of age, she left her parents for the United States with her younger brother Emilio. Some have insinuated that, at the dawn of Operation Peter Pan, the purpose was to escape the turmoil of the communist revolution. Others have instead mentioned that it was initially intended as a simple trip to visit family in Miami. In any event, a year later her father arranged from Cuba another move, this time to Canada, specifically to the religious community of the Sisters Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary in Quebec. Five years later, she married her husband Paul, who remained devoted to her until the end. Transitioning from the tropics to the outmost reaches of the Quebec Arctic, she worked as a teacher and raised her young children in the Inuit communities of Salluit and Kuujjuaq, returning to and settling permanently in Quebec City ten years later. There, she continued her teaching career at Quebec High School and Rochebelle International High School.
She devoted much love and resources to help and bring out several members who remained in Cuba, including her brother Carlos, who was just a baby when they were separated forty years earlier.
She touched the hearts of everyone she met with her authenticity, deep sensitivity, and natural affection. She encouraged academic achievement, loved teaching Spanish to her grandchildren, entertained everyone with her piano skills, and enjoyed traveling with her family. Her warmth and energy were matched only by her culinary talent, influenced by Cuban traditions yet uniquely her own. These qualities undoubtedly helped in keeping her children and grandchildren close.
She would have wished to stay among her loved ones for just one more day, but she passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family and radiant until the end.
The family warmly thanks the Integrated Oncology Center at the Enfant-Jésus Hospital, particularly Dr. Sebastianelli, as well as the palliative care department at the CHU who compassionately accompanied her until the end.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the CHU de Québec Foundation in her memory.
For information:
ATHOS
Telephone: 418 686-8811
Fax: 418 686-8813
Email: [email protected]