Yvette Rolande (Vaillancourt) Rousseau

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our Matriarch Yvette Rousseau at 94 years old. Yvette passed peacefully in her sleep on December 31, 2021 at Chapel Hill Retirement Residence in Ottawa. She now joins her dear husband Jean-Jacques (Jake) (d 2010) and her beloved son Richard (d 2018). Spirited and loving mother to Patrick (Martha), Francine (Ian), Jacques (Nancy) and Michelle (Frank). Yvette was a wonderful and doting Grandmother to Cindy (Tucker), Natalie (Steve), Eva (Clinton), Monique (Brent), Stephanie (Brandon), Rachelle, Robert (Stephanie), Michaela (Daniel), Denis (Shannon), Christopher (Julie) and Jonathan (Emily). Yvette loved her family and showed them off at every opportunity. She never missed a chance to beam about her great grandchildren: Liam, Regan, Jane, Sylas, Colton, Kate, Brooke, Raphaël and Audrey. Yvette survived her brothers and sisters: Roland (Marie Paule), Doris (Charlie), Jeannine (Raymond) and Claude (Annette) and is survived by numerous nieces and nephews throughout North America.

Yvette and Jake were married 63 years and moved approximately 24 times, settling in Markham for over 30 years. Yvette returned to school in her fifties and earned a certificate in office administration from Algonquin college and subsequently worked her way to becoming credit/collection manager, retiring in 1992. In her retirement she volunteered at the Salvation Army, knitted for the church bazaar and spent time with her family. In addition to her volunteer work, Yvette was physically and socially active. She walked daily, was an avid lawn bowler and could clean your clock at the card table. Her active lifestyle followed her to her retirement residence where she was a fierce competitor in most activities. She made a yearly trip to western Canada to visit her family, even into her nineties.

Smart as a whip and with her witty charm, it was hard not to love Yvette. She was never one to mince her words and you could always count on her to set you straight. Yvette loved her family fiercely and she will be greatly missed. But most of all, her grandchildren will miss her “Grandma Kisses” because if you have ever been on the receiving end of those, you knew how loved and special she made you feel when she was dishing them out.

As per Yvette’s wishes, her body has been donated to the University of Ottawa for scientific research. Yvette’s life will be celebrated at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society as these were the charities Yvette supported.

Rest easy Mom / Grandma, we love you.