Magdalena “Maggie” Nadeau
It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of “Maggie” Magdalena Nadeau on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at the age of 82.
The following tribute was written (with help from family members) and presented by grandchildren Jurrai Nadeau and Rylan Urban. We thought it would be nice to share Grandma’s Life Story.
Magdalena (Schwab) Nadeau, better known as Maggie or Lena, was born on May 6, 1932 in Revenue, Saskatchewan. Her parents, Wendelyn Schwab and Magdalena Hager raised her along with four brothers and seven sisters.
Maggie met her future husband Lawrence Nadeau at her brother Frank’s wedding on July 12, 1954. And as it turns out – Lawrence was the brother of Frank’s wife. Together Lawrence and Maggie had seven children: Angie (deceased) (Tom) Sharla and Owen; Larry (Marie) Kailin and Jurrai; Marlow (Sharron) Alissa, Megan, Dylan and Kallie; Owen (deceased); Wayne (Darlene) Michael and Matthew; Connie (Teresa) Robbie, Chantelle, Sheldon, Emily, Melissa and Nicholas; and Arlene (Ken) Rylan, Kiley and Ashley.
From the time of their marriage in 1954, until the time of Grandpa’s passing in 1994, Grandma and Grandpa were inseparable. They would get groceries, mail, run errands and even cut and stack wood together. Many times Grandma went to work with Grandpa just to be with him.
Maggie’s children remember growing up with ‘Pancake Fridays’, homemade macaroni and cheese, homemade Chinese food, treats like suc la crème and butter, Christmas sock stockings and large amounts of halva at Christmas time.
Grandma looked forward to special holidays like Thanksgiving, Easter and birthdays, as she would get to visit with her 19 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Christmas Eve was a significant event for Grandma and her family. We would gather either at someone’s home or at the hall to exchange gifts, eat and visit. This became to be known by some as NadeauEve.
Grandma enjoyed doing things with her hands, including knitting, crocheting, puzzles, sewing and mending, and painting. Grandma spent lots of her time making afghans, mittens, toques, scarves, lap blankets, baby blankets, doll and baby clothes, dish cloths and many more items for family, friends and the hospital. Grandma was more than generous with the items she made; she rarely kept anything for herself. There isn’t a person likely here today that doesn’t have something hanging from their stove, worn on their hands or feet, or slung over their chesterfield that was made with love by Grandma.
Grandma also enjoyed her weekly National Inquiry magazines, Harlequin Romance books, sweets including chocolates, and lottery scratch and win tickets.
Throughout the years, Grandma has had special friends in her life. She enjoyed playing cards with Jenny Scott every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and having Audie Cool pick her up every Saturday for groceries. Audie also picked Grandma up for her favourite trip out to A&W for coffee and a burger. Another friend of Grandma’s was Carole Dube, whom Grandma enjoyed visits with, be it near or far.
Some great memories we have of Grandma are: the numerous wedding cakes she designed and made for nieces, nephews and other family and friends. The cakes were amazing in different shapes, sizes and colours. This may be why a few of her children can still eat cake icing from the jar; the beautiful wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses she made from scratch; her little green car; sleepovers at her little yellow house; her amazing ability to bounce back after bad health; going for drives with her and Aunty Mary in Aunty Mary’s big red car; playing with the butterflies and the big stuffed caterpillars at her old house; her bin full of toys at the old house, yet never having enough drawing paper; riding the bus to Lloyminster with her; her bringing chocolate-covered raisins for Ashley and pennies for Rylan when visiting Lloydminster; birthday cards with the same amount of money as your age, taped in the same shape as your age in loonies and toonies; and the chain on her glasses.
Emily Forman, one of Grandma’s great-granddaughters who is nine years old wrote this soon after Grandma’s passing and wished to share:
Hello everyone and thank you for letting me write this speech. Grandma was a very important person in all of our lives and when I heard she passed away, I was very extremely upset. I want you all to know that I know it will be a big loss in your lives but also in mine. I, Emily Elaine Forman, promise that I will never ever have perfectly curly hair again because the only one that can do it perfect is Grandma Maggie. My parents and I will really miss the warm blankets that she made for us. Last but not least, we need to be happy because a lot of years ago Grandpa Lawrence died and now she can dance and talk with him, and seeing him will make her very happy. Thank you.
One of her children also wished to share:
It was hard to believe the last few times I visited mom, as I knew these precious visits that I had with her were coming to an end. Never would I have thought that I would have been with her when she chose to join Dad, Angie and Owen and all her other family and friends in heaven. I believe that everything happens for a reason and I do believe last Saturday was chosen because I was there and I got to tell mom I loved her, one last time. You will always be in all of our hearts, forever.
Finally, our family wished to share one last thing. On the Saturday that Grandma passed, she was taken out for Chinese food for lunch. And as usual, she received a fortune cookie – but never got the chance to read it. It wasn’t until last night that we got together as a family and opened the cookie. The fortune read as follows: “You will soon bring joy to someone.” The first, and only ones that we could think of were those waiting for her in heaven; Grandpa, Angie and Owen.
Maggie is survived by five children, 19 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, other family members as well as special friends Audie Cool, Jenny Scott and Carole Dube.
Vigil of Prayer Service was Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial was Friday, February 6, 2015 at 1 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Davidson.
Interment was in the family plot in Davidson Cemetery. Donations to Heart and Stroke Foundation, Cancer Society, Davidson Health Centre Trust Fund or charity of your choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Hanson’s Funeral Home.