Isabel Courchene

June 12, 1947 to April 18, 2010

It is with heartfelt sorrow that the Courchene family announces the passing of our beloved Isabel Courchene. She endured a long and courageous battle with numerous complications related to her diabetes. She left us on Sunday, April 18, 2010 at the Pine Falls Hospital.

She leaves to mourn her husband of 45 years Peter Courchene, her children; Cindy (Claude) Guimond, Todd (Tamara) Courchene, Mark (Carolyn) Courchene, Crystal (Darryl) Sinclair, and Sherman Courchene, grandchildren; Farrel (Peggy) Guimond, Jessica (Graham), Lee (Jodie), Emery (Kateri), Courtney, Shaylene, Shezna, Shayna, Cole, Cody, Tikkan, Payton, Mckenzie, great-grandchildren; Treasure, Starla, Cash, Avriel, Sage, Tye, Kalem. She will also be sadly missed by her brothers Larry (Jean), Ron (Peggy), Wayne (Carol), sisters, Diane (Patrick), Lorna, Ruby (Gerry), her in-laws Victor (Janette), Annette (Nick), Evelyn, Alma (Neil), Joyce, Diane (Clifford), Joan (Jack), sister in-laws (Therese, Eva) as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and former colleagues.

She was predeceased by her parents Felix and Elize Fontaine, her in-laws Harry and Mable Courchene, her foster son Rod Woodhouse, her infant siblings, in-laws (Norma, Joe-Frank, Gregory, Romeo).

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the Sagkeeng First Nation Health Center (Transportation Dept.) for their support during the entire time of her end stage illness. We would also like to thank the staff o f Pine Falls Hospital, Health Sciences, and St. Boniface Hospital for the high degree of medical care and compassion provided.

Isabel was born on June 12, 1947 and married the love of her life Peter on July 31, 1965. Her life with her husband was in sharing their dream of going into business and building a local gas/convenience store which she named Mama-wee-nong, which translates into “A gathering place.” She believed in economic development and the importance of creating employment for the community. She was proud in the fact she was able to achieve that dream.

She started out her career working at the Pine Falls Hospital, she changed professions and began working w i t h children a s a teachers aide, became a certified teacher and then specialized as an Odjibway language instructor for Sagkeeng Education Authority. The most important aspect of her work was the joy and love the children displayed to her. Over the years of her work she developed and translated much of her own curriculum into the Ojibway language. She also created her own songs in the Ojibway language and would sing them with such compassion. In 2007, Isabel h a d to leave the work she so loved and went on disability.

Isabel believed i n God and carried her faith strongly. She volunteered with the Fort Alexander Roman Catholic Church for many years. She sang with the church choir and taught baptism classes. She always offered prayers to anyone who needed them.

Her love for her husband and her family, was strong and unconditional. Family was important to her and she always stressed this to all of us. She displayed the importance of family by her numerous acts of kindness. She made it a point to acknowledge people on their birthdays, or to share a friendly smile and also shared her compassion to others in their own times of difficulty.

Our mother was a very loving and caring person and left a lasting impression on anyone she met. If you were lucky enough to know her, then you knew what unconditional love felt like. She made lasting impressions on friends and people she met over her 62 years and loved them all so much.

Mom you were so special to all of us, it’s so hard to let you go, but how do you keep an angel on earth when God in Heaven calls you back. We can take comfort in knowing that you have become our guardian angel and your teachings will live on through us.

Condolences for the family may be offered at www.SoberingFuneralChapel.com.

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