Eulogy for Jeannine Couture

Now, the last time I talked to Meme, she said a couple things that really stuck with me.  First of all, she told me how proud she was of me.  You see, I just recently started my own business, an art and fashion gallery, in Montreal and you can bet that Meme was my biggest supporter.  She had planned to come up to Montreal and see my gallery for the first time this week, but she passed before she got the chance.  What I realize is that she did one better. Now she’s gonna be there with me every day.  Watching over me.  Loving me.  And supporting me.  What she told me was that it was gonna be hard, but not to give up. And to never stop believing in myself.  You know, I hadn’t told anybody this, but that’s what I really needed to hear.

If there was one thing I heard her talk about over the years more than any other, it would have to be her family.  She was so proud to have such a big, beautiful and loving family.  First her kids, then grandkids, and then to her infinite delight, great grand children.  She was so giving and caring to all of us.  Even when we weren't around her, we were in her thoughts, and in her heart.  She would make no secret of the fact that she was praying for us, whenever we told her we needed help, and when we didn’t tell her, but she just seemed to know anyway.

Her blood runs through our veins, but she’s touched each one of us in so much more significant a way.  Last night I was hanging out with a roomful of loving cousins, and I thought to myself  "We all come from you Meme."  If a big and loving family is how you measure wealth, then she was the richest woman in the world.  And she couldn't have been prouder of all of us.  What I hope she knows is how proud we all are of her. 

There was simply no one like her.  She was beautiful and pure of heart, and I admired her so much.  I admit that the possibility exists that maybe she wasn’t perfect, but she was perfect to me.  She was probably the most special person I have ever met in my life.  She made us laugh.  She left us with scores of memories and stories, vocabularies full of words twisted with her charming accent, and hearts that will forever be bursting full of love for her. 

Now, that brings me to another thing Meme told me the last time I talked to her.  And that was that she didn’t want people crying for her.  She had a positive attitude and she was happy with the life she’s lived.  And who wouldn’t be?   What Meme lived was more than just a life, it was a legacy.

She was simply amazing.    She was so talented, her creativity was absolutely undeniable.   She was a carpenter, a fashion designer, a craftswoman, a gardener, a hairstylist, a chef, an interior decorator, and so much more.  She could do anything.  She could turn nothing into something incredible by just applying hard work and her own special brand of genius.  Rumpelstiltskin had nothing on Meme.  He could only turn straw into gold.  She could turn anything into gold – all she needed was a can of spraypaint.  She had no education, and yet she was so smart.  With no money, she dressed her children up to look like a million bucks.   With nothing more than pennies and yardsale finds, she made a home look like a palace, complete with gazebo and beautiful gardens.  And she always looked dynamite, with a fabulous outfit, and never without a fashionable selection from her array of matching shoes and accessories.   She looked every inch a queen.  And she was the queen of our family, royalty through and through.

And today we celebrate her.  But it doesn’t stop here.  On this day.  'Cause I know that she will be watching over each and every one of us as we live out our lives.  And I think that the very best way to honour her is to do right by Meme, to keep our chins up, to work hard, to live with integrity, to believe in ourselves, and to love, support and appreciate our family.  These are the things you have taught us Meme, and we're going to continue to make you proud.