Claire Hilda Bourduas (née Nolet)

Claire peacefully passed away at the Golden Plough Lodge after living there for almost 8 years at the age 102. Claire was born in Ste. Sabine, Quebec, daughter of Emma Letourneau and Ovid Nolet. She was raised in northern Ontario until moving to Montreal where she met this handsome younger man who swept her off her feet. She married Richard Irenee Bourduas who predeceased her in 2016 after 70 years of marriage. Claire was the last surviving member from both families.
She is survived by her two daughters: Nicole Bourduas and her partner Katie Elder from Nanaimo, B.C. and Francine Birket and her husband Brian from Cobourg, her grandson Jeff Gagnon and wife Gina and grand-daughter Danie. Claire was also honorary great grandma to Kyle, Tristan and Austin children of Jonas and Silvia Birket. She will be missed by numerous nieces and nephews.
Although shy by nature, she was warm, fun loving, supportive, kind and loving. She used her numerous creative talents to make clothes for us when we were young, to creating original quilts and festive items for friends and family. Although she came from a humble background, she worked at the local library in Port Cartier, Quebec. Her intelligence showed through her love of reading, traveling with Pops, playing scrabble and cards and doing crossword puzzles. She became a gourmet cook and was always ready to try new recipes. She supplied wonderful cookies for the family for so many years to everyone’s delight. She and Pops loved entertaining friends and family over a very dry martini.
The family wants to thank the entire, wonderful staff at the Plough from the assistant Director of Care, Janet, to the nurses, the PSW’s from Symonds House and four young people Keegan, Claire, Nirali and Madison who gave her so much love, kept her engaged and added so much to her final years.
Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society. No formal farewell is planned.