April 12, 2020
JOHNSON, Adrienne Cecile "Nan" (nee Thibault). (1935 - 2020)
Adrienne (Nan) 85, went to be with her Lord early Easter Sunday
morning, April 12, 2020. She passed on peacefully in her Courtenay, BC home with Roy, her loving and devoted husband of over 63 years at her side. Also left to mourn are her children: Diane (Steve) of North Bay, ON; Suzanne of Vancouver; Bob (Kelly Ann) of Campbell River, BC; and Dale (Tara) of the Slocan Valley, BC. Grandma will be greatly missed by her loving grandchildren: Dustin (Tracy) of Sudbury, ON; Jay (Bronwyn) of Toronto, and Ayden and Jasmin, the Kootenay Kids. Nan was delighted to have met her young great-grandsons, River and Emerson, who will know her from the love and stories we pass on. Nan is also survived by her loving sister, Claire Chalifour (Robert) of Chitek Lake, SK and her brother, Harvey Thibault (Carol) of Delta, BC. Auntie Nan also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews across the continent. She was predeceased by her parents, Ernest and Gertrude (Cote) Thibault, her stepfather, Phil Lafrance, by her sister Yvette, and by her young grandson, Zackery Rain.
Tiny but mighty, Nan was born in the Great Depression in a log shack in the midst of a cold prairie winter. She was raised in the village of Fairholme, SK where she learned how to stretch a penny, waste not, want not, and how to make a meal from almost nothing. Nan learned the value of hard work while helping in the family cafe, hotel, general store, and gas station. Adrienne spoke only French until age six when she started school in the local one-room schoolhouse. There, she met Roy who (we are told) was the only boy she was ever interested in.
Nan followed her "Roy Boy" to Alberta and in 1956 they were married in the Catholic Church. Nan embraced the military life of her man, learning to "bloom where you are planted". Roy and Nan had a good life, moving back and forth across Canada and the USA while raising a fine family of four "Air Force brats". Roy's work took him away, sometimes for long periods of time and she carried on at home alone. During Roy's six month tour of duty with the United Nations in Egypt, Nan treated herself to a solo trip and a short vacation with him there.
In retirement, Nan continued to travel with Roy, enjoying many adventurous trips, including exploring more of our great country of "CA-NA-DA". (This was a favourite song of hers during Canada's Centennial celebration in 1967.) Nan was particularly grateful for their trips to the Holy Land, and winters spent with family and friends in Arizona.
Roy and Nan made many wonderful, lasting friendships through their varied interests, such as camping with their RV group, skiing, dancing, Marriage Encounter and especially, through the Catholic Church, which she attended faithfully and where she was involved in the Catholic Women's League, Bible studies, and as a dedicated volunteer with funeral lunches.
Above all, Nan was committed and very devoted to her family. She took great interest in the lives of her children and grandchildren. Nan built strong, lasting bonds with her grandchildren despite the great physical distance that separated them. She eagerly collected their hand prints over the years which she displayed proudly until the end.
Nan was a quiet, cheerful, and very loving person. She was most happy in the kitchen, where she showed her love by creating wonderful meals day after day. Nan loved children and, for a time, worked in Early Childhood Education where she was very well liked and appreciated. In her gentle, caring way she left her legacy of love in this world.
Though Nan will be sorely missed, we are grateful that she no longer suffers from blindness and dementia. A devout Catholic, Nan left us on Easter Sunday and can now rest peacefully with her loving God.
Cremation has taken place, and there will be a Funeral Mass when it is safe for us to gather again. If desired, condolences may be sent to Comox Valley Funeral Home at info@comoxvalleyfuneralhome.com