Erminia Daignault Charlebois was born March 27, 1913 in Fort Frances, Ont. to Natale Frank and Maria DeBenedet. Her first husband, Alphonse Daignault, died in 1968. Ernest Charlebois, her second husband, also passed away.
Erminia came from a very large family of nine brothers and sisters, all of whom are now deceased. Her brothers were Joesph (Josephine) DeBenedet, Angelo (Enrica) DeBenedet, Peter (Angeline) DeBenedet, Louis (Marie) DeBenedet, and Arthur (Carmela—still living) Debenedet; and her sisters were Alvera (Pierre Peters-Leonard Dhur), Ida (Jul. Moen), Olga (George Laroque), and Mary (Micheal Zamalyski).
Erminia also was predeceased by one of her sons, James (Agnes) of Wabigoon, Ont.
She is survived by her son, John (Shirley) Daignault of Dryden, Ont.; and daughter, Patricia (Harlan) Faragher of Fort Frances, Ont. She also is survived by 10 grandchildren, Gary (Mona), Patrick, Micheal, and Timothy Diagnault, Mark Faragher, Darcy (Penny) Faragher, Karen (Jon Queffelec), Connie (Doug Cathbertson), Peggy (Heinz Lang), and Tracy (Claus Rottler).
She also is survived by 21 great-grandchildren, Jamie, Amber, Peter, Steven, Adam, Logan, Tyler, Stephannie, Kurtis, Kristan, Daniel, Dustin, Chistopher, Chad, Megan, Shaunna, Wyn, Zoe, Samantha, Tyson, Ashley, and Ryan; and two great-great grandchildren, Kennedy and Nolan.
She also left behind her sister-in-law, Carmela; as well as numerous nephews and nieces.
Erminia was a homemaker who loved to garden. She had a huge garden and always had flowerbeds planted everywhere around her house. Her flowerbeds were so beautiful that years back, tourists used to stop and take pictures of them.
She knitted socks and mittens every week to send over for the men in the army. She was very gifted in making crafts and very talented with her hands. Often, she would see something and after looking at it carefully, turning and twisting it one way then the next, she would go home and then make that craft from her head—and usually improving it in some way.
She could make dolls, plaques for walls, or just about anything you could imagine. She loved petty point, knitting, and crocheting, and she made afghans, quilts, and absolutely anything.
As well, she was an expert seamstress and loved to sew.
Erminia loved her ice cream. On Sundays years back, her four sisters and children would sit down on a Sunday party and eat a 2.5 gal. tub of ice cream.
She had a zest for life and a strong love for her family. She loved to travel and see things. She was a long-time and well-known resident of Fort Frances, and loved to tell stories dating back to 1920.
Erminia passed away in Dryden June 11, 2004 surrounded by her loving family.
Visitation will take place Thursday, June 17, 2004 from 9-11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances.
The funeral service will take place Thursday, June 17, 2004 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, with Fr. Edwin Merchant officiating.
Interment at the Fort Frances Cemetery to follow.
If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the CNIB through the Dryden Community Funeral Home, 249 Grand Trunk Ave., Dryden, Ont., P8N 2X3.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to dcfh@mail.drytel.net (subject heading: Erminia Charlebois).
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
