Obituaries

CLAIRE MARIE ANNE RITA NAULT
(NEE LEGAL)

It is with great sadness that the family of Claire Marie Anne Rita Nault (née Legal), beloved Mother, Mémère, grand-Mémère, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, friend; announce her peaceful passing at Actionmarguerite St. Boniface on June 10, 2026, at the age of 94 years.

Mom was born on March 25, 1932, in Ste. Geneviève, Manitoba, the fifth of fifteen children.  She grew up on a farm where she had to complete her chores before walking to school. This instilled in her a strong work ethic which she kept for the remainder of her life.  Mom met the love of her life, Aurèle, at the young age of 17 during a social where Dad and his brothers were the musicians.  They were married shortly after this first encounter and this loving union lasted for 70 years until Dad passed.  They built their first home on the Nault farm in Richer, Manitoba. The first six children were born there and the seventh was born in Pine Falls where the family relocated for work.  Mom spent countless hours sewing and ironing clothes for her children. When the children were older Mom took the odd job as a cook at several local restaurants, one of where she worked with three of her daughters, and later as a chambermaid.  Mom loved shopping, snowmobiling, playing cards, puzzles, knitting, reading, watching her soaps and later in life playing games on her iPad.  She enjoyed traveling with her siblings and with her children.  She and Dad spent several winters in Port Alberni.  Her favourite trip was when she and all her daughters got together in Osoyoos.  She also loved her annual weekend getaway with her sisters.  Her favourite holiday was Christmas and she’d spend days baking and cooking the feast for the Christmas réveillon. Her greatest love of life was family and she loved to laugh with us.  One of her favourite pastimes was spending time at her second home camping with Dad in Stonewall.  After Dad passed her daughters would take turns spending weeks with her at the camper.  Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her immense joy and she often shared funny stories and silly things that they had said.  Once she entered the nursing home, she enjoyed playing bingo and doing crafts. She loved her visits with her extended family and enjoyed going out for lunch or having lunch brought in as a special treat.

Mom is lovingly remembered by her children Denise Catellier, Maurice, Laurette (Orland) Bordal, Jeannine (Bill) Lavallee, Suzanne (Bill) Rodger, Claude (Shelley), Nicole (Geoff) Bell.  She will also be fondly remembered by 21 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren; her siblings Marie-Rose, Lucienne (Frank), Jean, and Gilberte (Lee); in-laws Roger, Irma, Gladys, Philip and Louise; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Mom was predeceased by her husband Aurèle in 2020; her parents Henri and Marie-Anne; brothers George, Louis, Francois, Michel, Claude, Paul, and Gerard; sisters Germaine, Yvonne and Celine and numerous in-laws.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, June 27 at 10:00 a.m., Christ the King Catholic Church, 315 Second Street East, Stonewall, MB.  Interment to follow at 1:00 p.m., L’Enfant Jesus Cemetery, Richer MB.  A reception will be held after interment at the Richer Community Hall.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the staff at Actionmarguerite,  St. Boniface for the care and attention provided to our dear Mother.