It is with great sadness that the family of Lena Mercure announces her passing on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019 at Rainycrest Long Term Care in Fort Frances, Ont.
She was born on July 10, 1926 in Fort Frances, Ont. to Harry and Sophie Onichuk. She grew up in Fort Frances, finishing Grade 8 and then taking work at the Rainy Lake Hotel as a salad girl.
She was united in marriage to Leonard Mercure on Feb. 7, 1946, and settled into her role of wife and mother.
She was a Charter Member of the CWL and a member of the Order of the Royal Purple. Lena made friends easily wherever she went.
She could always be found with a candy or sweet handy, and she would never turn down ice cream. She adored her grandchildren greatly and loved every moment spent with them.
Lena defined generosity and strength. Her heart went out fully to those she loved.
Although she would never agree, Lena had a powerful strength within her. It allowed her to persevere through the loss of many family members. It helped her through cancer, a stroke, a broken hip, and pneumonia.
It helped her to thrive, rather than simply survive. More than once, our undeniably cute Lena was described as a fighter.
Through everything, Lena never lost her smile or infectious laugh. She maintained her enthusiasm for life, her excitement for holidays and celebrations, and her love–such a deep, pure love–of her family.
She worried a lot about “her kids,” but she laughed a lot more. She was equal parts feisty and shy; predictable and surprising.
There is no other like Lena, and there never will be.
Her family will cherish and pass on all the memories and Lena-isms for generations to come; because anyone who knows a Mercure knows they love to reminisce–and they have the best stories to share.
Lena leaves behind four children, Murray (Elizabeth), Annette Hautakangas (Barry); Gregory (Kathy), and Real; grandchildren, Cheryl Angus (Wayne), Bruce Roth, Devon Mercure, Travis Mercure (Amy), Regan Beebe (Connor), Kyle Hautakangas (Brittany), Eric Hautakangas (Jenn), Mark Mercure (Lindsay), Susan Mercure De Gagne (Kalon), Karen Mercure, Casey Mercure and Brianna Mercure; great-grandchildren, Jeffrey (Rhianna), Jason, Joey, Justin, Andrew, Dylan, Reece, Lucy, Atlas, Porter, Harris, Odin, Sienna, Paisley, Anneliese, Willem, Sophie, Noah, Declan, Maverick, Hannah, and Cruz; great-great grandchildren, Bentley, Nixon, and Brandon; son-in-law Earl Roth (Eileen); sisters-in-law, Ann Onichuk, Ruth Onichuk and Barb Beck; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Walker and Real St. Pierre, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, Harry and Sophie Onichuk; daughter, Maureen Roth; two infant sons; sisters, Polly LeBlanc (Leo), Julie Covell (Stan) and Nettie Walker; and brothers, Tom, Benjamin, James and Steve Onichuk.
Funeral mass was held on Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 at 2 p.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. Father Berchmans Francis officiated.
Interment took place in Holy Cross Cemetery in Fort Frances, Ont.
The pallbearers were Mark Mercure, Bruce Roth, Jeffrey Angus, Jason Angus, Andrew Roth, and Dylan Roth.
If friends so desire in memoriam donations may be made to St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 209 Victoria Avenue, Fort Frances, ON, P9A 2B9
Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com.
LENA MERCURE
