August 9, 1927 - September 5, 2022
In Loving Memory ~
Denise died peacefully at home, in her long-time residence overlooking Piper's Lagoon in Nanaimo, B.C.
Predeceased by her devoted husband Bernie in 2009, she is survived by six children: Michael (Meri-Ellen), Daniel (Patsy), Christopher, Janet (Doug), Joseph (Darlene) and Melanie (Ward), twelve grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Mom was predeceased by her sister Therese St. Arnaud, brothers Michel, John, and Henry Blondeau, brothers-in-law Paul Marcoux, Roland St. Arnaud, Harry Comeau, Cuthbert Cain, Paul Roggeveen, Gerard Cain, sisters-in-law Barbara Blondeau, Lillian Blondeau, Eileen Roggeveen, Yolande Cain, and Gloria Cain.
Denise is survived by her brother Alex Blondeau, sisters Jeanne Comeau, Sally (Don) Crawford, Beatrice (Brian) Waldner, Lorraine Blondeau, sisters-in-law Jeannine Blondeau, Terry (Harold) Blondeau, Patricia Cain, brother-in-law Vince Cain, many nephews and nieces, and numerous second cousins in England.
Mom was born in Domremy, Saskatchewan, to Joseph and Bernadette Blondeau. She was the second eldest of ten children. At an early age, Mom developed a love of music and became an accomplished singer and pianist.
She trained to become an RN in Saskatoon and graduated from St. Paul's Hospital School of Nursing in 1948.
Mom's adventurous nature took her to Port Alberni in the early 1950s. This is where she met the love of her life, Bernie. They married in 1953 and, after spending time working in the East Kootenays, returned to Vancouver Island, to Nanaimo in 1959, and settled in Lantzville in 1960 to raise their growing family.
Mom was an incredible homemaker; her family and devotion to them being her greatest joy. Sunday roast beef dinners, flapper pies, old records on the turntable and a good long game of canasta are among the memories that we will always cherish of her.
In 1980, Mom and Dad moved to the Piper's Lagoon area of Nanaimo, where they resided for the remainder of their lives. With the big prairie sky always in her heart, Mom found solace in the expansiveness of the ocean.
The simplest pleasures in life brought her great happiness; she loved to read, knit, sew, play piano, and sing. But mostly, she loved to spend time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and treasured friends.
Mom was a friend and confidant to many. She had a wonderful capacity to focus on the goodness of others and to find the humour in life.
Denise was a founding member of the Trinity Catholic Church choir in the early 1980s and offered her musical talents to the choir for 25 years until her mobility issues made that impossible.
The Cain family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to Dr. Helmet Mark and Dr. Ibrahim Dodo for their wonderful bedside manner in caring for our mom. As well, a great thank you to the Vancouver Island Health Authority and Nanaimo Home Support for their long-time aid and assistance.
The family is, above all, eternally grateful to Joe Ann Collado for her extraordinary, loving dedication to Mom over the past nine years, ever since she became bedridden. Mom loved Joe Ann and considered her devoted caretaker to be her personal angel.
The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi was Mom's favourite, and she strove daily to fulfill the words: "O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love."
Denise will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
A funeral service will be held at Trinity Catholic Church, 6234 Spartan Rd. on Saturday, October 15 at 11:00 am. Interment at Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens at 2:00 pm.
Service Details
11:00 AM