Obituary of Rita Elizabeth Landry

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It is with great sadness and broken hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved mother, Rita Elizabeth Landry, shortly following her 102nd birthday.

A lifelong resident of Pomquet she was born on April 20 and baptized on April 21, 1923, she was a daughter of the late Henry and Julia (Venedam) Doiron. After the sudden and early death of her father in 1933 at the age of 42, she and her eight siblings were raised by their loving and strong mother who remained a source of inspiration until her death in 1981, at the age of 86.

Mom (Mere/Mere Rita) was educated in Pomquet in a one room schoolhouse. After graduation, Rita went to work for the family of Lloyd Jewkes Sr. Later she decided to move to Halifax and was employed as a nanny by Rev. D.M. and Jean (Stewart) Grant. Rita would reminisce wonderful memories of both families through her lifetime. In 1945 she returned home and on September 11,1945 married Dad, Alex, in Ste. Croix Church, Pomquet. Her career was a full time Mom, a role she loved.

She will be most remembered for her loving kindness to all which was most frequently expressed in the "The Century Family Farmhouse" kitchen in Pomquet. It was here that the welcoming atmosphere included a  gracious hostess, who when not praying or watching the daily morning mass, was often found in the pantry making one of her specialties or sitting in the chair with a fresh ball of yarn, knitting dishcloths for family and community.

Mom/Mere was a very humble and compassionate individual with a generous true French Acadian spirit.

Her legacy will live on through all of us with her generosity, kindness, quick wit and caring and loving persona.  She had a special place in her heart for each and everyone of us. Mom and Dad were happily married for 60 years until his passing. Rita and Alex had eight children, seven sons and one daughter.

She is survived by her children David (Lorraine); Donald (Terri); Daniel; Philip (Josephine) all of Pomquet; Dominic, Addington Forks; Gilbert (Marie), Antigonish; and Julie (Mike) Tiffany, Calgary. Mere will also be greatly missed by her 19 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Also left to mourn her passing are sister Adele (Alfred) Benoit and sister-in-law, Marie (late Dominic) Doiron.

She is predeceased by her husband Alex Raymond on January 28, 2006, second child Aubrey James at 7 weeks old in 1950, cherished daughter-in-law Frances (MacDonald) in 2011 and special granddaughter Melissa Landry in 2013, sisters Anna, Margaret (Joseph Landry), Mary (Robert Cormier), brothers Georgie (Josephine), Leo, Dominic, and Francis (Stella). 

Rita was a dedicated member of Ste. Croix Parish and a past member of Ste. Croix Pomquet Choir, Pomquet Ladies Club, Pomquet Co-op and one of the oldest members of the Credit Union. Her generosity extended to others by supporting many charities and foundations.

Special thanks to the VON for their weekly visits over the last several years, Dr. Mary Gorman, Kate Landry NP, Dawn MacIntosh, RN and all family and friends who were able to keep Mom/Mere comfortable, in her own home, until her final breath.

Visitation will be held from 2:00-6:00 pm on Sunday, May 11th in MacIsaac Funeral Home, 61 Pleasant St. Funeral Mass will be held at 11 am on Monday in Ste. Croix Church, Pomquet, Reverend Danny MacLennan presiding. Burial in the parish cemetery. Donations in memory of Rita may be made to the Pomquet Cemetery Fund or a charity of choice.