MONIQUE BERNADETTE (LUSSIER) BOURGEOIS

ISLE LA MOTTE — Monique Bernadette (Lussier) Bourgeois passed to her eternal rest on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, at the age of 87. She was born in St. Rosalie, Quebec, Canada, to Irene (LaFlamme) and Rosario Lussier as the middle child of nine.

She met her husband, Louis, while picking apples in a Vermont orchard. They married in 1956, raising their four children on military bases from Maine to New York. When Louis retired from the military they returned to Vermont and built their home in New Haven, spending many wonderful years there. Following Louis’ retirement from his second career, they enjoyed traveling in their RV, square dancing and spending time with their children and grandchildren until his death in 1997 after 41 years of marriage.

After Louis’ death, Monique moved to Isle LaMotte, Vt. and enjoyed creating a life for herself at “The Lake,” sharing her home with family and friends. Monique was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. She enjoyed spending time with her family watching hockey games, baking cookies, and catching frogs. She was an accomplished seamstress, quilter, and handcrafter, but her truest passion was working in the beautiful flower gardens and landscapes she created in each of her homes. She couldn’t walk past a weed without stopping to pull it.

Among her many additional interests and accomplishments, Monique was a one-room schoolteacher in Quebec, sang in the choir at St. Mary’s church, taught French to the children of St. Mary’s school in Middlebury, and spent many years working and volunteering at St. Anne’s shrine in Isle LaMotte.

Monique is survived by her children, Fabian and wife Amy of New Haven, Steven and wife Valerie of Bridport, Denise and husband Salvatore Colombo of Hyde Park, and Cynthia and husband David Gagne of Everett, Mass., as well as 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and her long-time caring and devoted partner William (Bill) Cousino of Bristol, with whom she spent many enjoyable years in Vermont and Florida.

She is also survived by her brothers, Garcia Lussier, OMI of Our Lady of the Cape Shrine in Three Rivers, QC; Normand and wife Laurel Lussier of South Windsor, Conn.; Renald and wife Agnes Lussier of Charlotte, Vt.; her sister Carmen Lussier of St. Hyacinthe, QC; her sister-in-law, Lilian Lussier of South Windsor; Conn., and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, brothers (and sisters-in-law), Gilbert, George (Laurette), Richard (Simone), and Jean-Marie, and brother-in-law Denis Caron and sister-in-law, Delia (Blaise/Bourgeois) Litch and her husband Ervin.

Calling hours for the family will be from 9-10 a.m., all others are welcome from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Middlebury. ◊