Obituary of Theresa Marion Mombourquette

Our Angel has returned to Heaven. Theresa Marion Mombourquette (Clannon) passed peacefully into eternity on February 15, 2021, at the age of 93, with her children beside her at the Fredericton Hospice House. Born on September 23, 1927, in the small fishing village of Little Harbour, Lower L’Ardoise, Richmond County, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, to Peter and Emeline (Campbell) Clannon, Theresa was the youngest of six children. She grew up near the seaside and had a lifelong love for the ocean and the peace and beauty of her native Cape Breton Island. As a teenager in the small community schoolhouse, she had a love for teaching and often assisted the younger children with their lessons. After graduating high school in Arichat in 1945, Theresa moved to Halifax where she worked for one year at the Zellers store on Barrington Street. Knowing that retail was not her calling, she applied for and received a teaching position at a small school in Guysborough Country, NS. She so impressed the Principal that he recommended she attend teachers’ college, and she was accepted into the teachers’ program at the Truro, NS Provincial Normal College in 1947. After graduation in 1948, she returned home to L’Ardoise where she taught until 1952. In 1952 Theresa married the love of her life, Joseph, a Canadian Army officer who boasted that, "After travelling the world I returned home and married the prettiest girl next door!" Within a few months Joe was sent overseas with his unit to fight in the Korean War. Pregnant with their first child, Theresa returned to L’Ardoise and continued to teach until Joe returned to Canada in 1954. They lived in Petawawa, Ontario until 1955, when Joe was transferred to Chatham, NB. They were posted to Oromocto, NB from 1958 to 1962, Montreal from 1962 to 1964, and finally back to Oromocto from 1964 to 1973. After Joe retired from the military, Theresa and their family moved to Burton, NB where she resided for her remaining years. While raising her six children, Theresa returned to teaching in the 1970s as a supply teacher in local elementary schools and Oromocto High School, where she met many wonderful teachers and students who continue to live in the Oromocto-Fredericton area. During her years living on military bases Theresa made many lifelong friends, some of whom she remained in contact with for more than 60 years even though they lived in distant parts of Canada. Her dearest friends were made in the Oromocto area, through her involvement with the Catholic Women’s League at St. Mary’s Church and St. Vincent de Paul Parish, the Oromocto Hospital Auxiliary (one of its founding members), the Oromocto Victorian Order of Nurses, and the Progressive Conservative Party at both the provincial and federal levels. Theresa was a woman of deep faith and devotion. She taught grade two Catechism for more than 40 years and saw hundreds of her students receive their First Communion. She was also very involved in adult Christian education. Although quiet by nature, Theresa took on leadership roles in the CWL and Hospital Auxiliary and Parish Council. She was a tireless volunteer for many other charities, including the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Red Cross. She was often seen at bake sales or selling raffle tickets at the Oromocto Mall, or assisting with events at St. Vincent de Paul. There were many friends and neighbours who enjoyed her molasses cookies, pies and famous Cape Breton date squares, which she often donated for charitable events. We will miss her nurturing spirit immensely as anyone who was ever at the house surely heard, "Are you sure you’ve had enough to eat?" Theresa is survived by her sons: Colin (Arlene) Mombourquette, Peter Mombourquette, Kevin Mombourquette, and David Mombourquette; daughter Maureen (Dale) Cook; daughters-in-law: Jean Mombourquette, Deborah Fraser and Kim Nguyen; 11 grandchildren: Alex, Emily, Gabrielle, Hailey, Mandy, Neil, Nicole, Patrick, Spencer, Stephen, and William; 10 great-grandchildren: Alia, Betty, Caileen, Frankie, Freddy, Jesse, Joseph, Karson, Lex, and Rachael; sisters-in-law: Sister Rose Mary Mombourquette (Filles de Jésus) and Anna (Danny) Mombourquette; brother-in-law Freddy (Margaret) Sampson; God-children: Leo Briand and Theresa Clements; and many dear nieces, nephews and cousins. She was blessed to have many visits from her nieces: Theresa (Terry) Clements, Natalie (Fenton) Milligan, Elaine (Marvin) Milligan, and Sherry (Doug) Woodworth, and nephew Tony (Janet) Mombourquette. She will be missed by her many close cousins in L’Ardoise who she enjoyed visiting on her trips to Cape Breton, especially Tommy and Kay Mombourquette, Manny and Marie (Clannon) Mombourquette, Rita May (Harry) Sampson, and Sally Anne Mombourquette. Theresa is pre-deceased by her husband Joseph; son Michael Mombourquette; granddaughter Catherine Mombourquette; parents Peter and Emeline Clannon; all of her siblings and their spouses; Joseph (Kay) Clannon, Elizabeth (Alfred) Briand, Ann Clannon, Agnes (Peter) Birrette, and Mary Catharine (Jim) Brian; and bothers-in-law Danny (Anna) Mombourquette, Raymond Mombourquette and his wife Irene, and Walter Mombourquette and his wife Nora. The family would like to express our sincere thanks to the staff and volunteers at Hospice House Fredericton for your heartfelt care of Mom during her end-of-life journey, and for your kindness to all the family during this difficult time. The peace Mom experienced in her final days is a tribute to the professionalism and compassion of everyone on your wonderful team. There will be a visitation starting at 2:00 pm on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at the Oromocto Funeral Home. Due to public health restrictictons, please contact the funeral home to reserve a time to attend the visitation: phone (506) 357-5100 or email oromocto@mcadamsfh.com and provide your name and phone number for contact tracing purposes. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place by invitation only on Friday, February 19, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Oromocto, New Brunswick. To watch a recording of the service, please select the following link: https://vimeo.com/513092948 In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice House Fredericton (https://hospicefredericton.ca/) or a charity of the donor's choice would be appreciated by the family.