Alice Bourassa

Our Mom, Alice Matilda Bourassa (nee Cook) was born to Adam and Violet (Quill) on March 1, 1936 in Shoal River, Manitoba.  She attended the residential school in Camperville, Manitoba for two years, which she barely talked about.  Mom was united in marriage to our Dad, Solomon Clement Bourassa on December 25, 1952 at the Roman Catholic Church in Pelican Rapids, Mb.  Mom resided in Shoal River until her illness in May 2016 and eventually moved to the Swan Valley Lodge in Swan River after a lengthy stay in the hospital.

Our dear mother lived a very full and blessed life to see five generations of descendants from her first daughter, Diane and the birth of her first grandson Troy Daniel Kelly Bourassa, whom she raised and claimed as her own.  Our Mom’s favorite past time before she became ill was visiting with family members and friends.  She always had tea, soup and bannock on her stove, ready to feed those who frequented and visited her at home.  She had a good sense of humor and enjoyed the company of others.  Nothing was more precious to her than the time spent with all her family members.  Mom enjoyed square dancing, barbeques with family, birthday parties, braiding sweet grass, reading, cooking, listening to the radio, playing poker, bingo and sewing.  She kept busy sewing by hand or using her antique sewing machine.  If it broke she was always able to fix it.  We all miss the soothing sounds of that old sewing machine that came from her room.  She made blankets and pillow cases and sewed whatever other people requested from her.  Her other favorite past time was making pies and making braided rugs to give to friends and loved ones.  She enjoyed attending community celebrations and helping out at wakes and funerals.  There is so much we can say about our dear Mom because she was always up to something every day.

She was not only our loving, caring, Mother, she was our anchor in times of storms, trouble, tears and sorrow, loss and grief.  She cried, laughed and celebrated with us. She taught us perseverance through hardships and struggles.  Our Mom was a strong and kindhearted woman.  She was a hard worker her whole life. There was nothing my mom couldn’t do.  She went through lots in her lifetime.  She lost her mom at a young age.  She lost children and because of her strong faith in a loving God she was able to go on. We wish we had seen the angels faces when you were called home. We love you, mom and we will miss you every day but our fond memories of you will last forever.

Our Mom, Alice passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 5:45 am in the Swan Valley Lodge.  She was 84 years of age.  Alice is survived by her children Diane, Marybelle, Lynn, Ron, Greg, Kelly, Henry, Gary, Troy, Leon, Ann. Her greatest pride and joy was seeing her 25 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren and 8 great great grandchildren growing up. Our mom is also survived by her brothers, Daniel (Sandra) Cook of Wuskwi Sipihk; Douglas Cook of Tisdale, Saskatchewan; sisters Elizabeth Cook and Tina Henderson of Winnipeg; step sister Vitaline (Roderick) Sinclair of Shoal River; and many special nieces and nephews.

Our mom, Alice was predeceased by her parents Adam and Violet Cook; her husband Solomon Bourassa; sons Wayne Kelly John, Norbert Oliver and James Edward Bourassa; her daughters Alma Bonnie, Beverly and another angel she never got to bring home, brothers; Gordon Henry “Kenny”Cook,

 Alec Cook, Lawrence Cook and Charlie Cook; sister Agnes Munroe; brothers-in-law Harry Munroe, Percy Munroe, sisters-in-law Nora Cook, Betsy Campeau, Mary Gott; nieces Isabelle Cook, Jane Leask, Lucy Spence; and her grandsons Aaron Kelly Genaille, Jeremiah Bourassa and a baby granddaughter, a baby great grandson, stepmother Caroline Cook; Uncles Daniel Cook, Moses Cook; and aunt Marie Louise Nepinak, Christianne Cook, Frances Cook.  If any names were missed it was without intent.

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