CHARBONNEAU, Marie Jeanne Agathe 'Aggie' (née Morin)

Marie Jeanne Agathe "Aggie" Charbonneau (née Morin), undisputed matriarch of the Charbonneau family, passed peacefully on September 10th, 2024, at Hospice Wellington in Guelph, Ontario.

Aggie was a small-town girl born on April 2, 1933, in Lafleche, Saskatchewan. She met her predeceased (2022) and devoted husband George Allen Charbonneau, from the neighbouring town, Gravelbourg, and was married for 69 years. Aggie, as the mother of seven children with Allen working and travelling often was a very busy person. Her organizational skills and energy were legendary and if she were born in a different time, she could have been a CEO of her own company. There were always home cooked meals, fresh baked goods, nutritious school lunches, clean clothes, homework help sessions, laughter and joy. With all of this she still managed to sneak in her weekly bridge and golf games. Undaunted, Aggie moved her whole family many times, without complaints from Lafleche, Saskatchewan, Regina, Saskatchewan, Madison, Wisconsin, West Bloomfield, Michigan, returning finally back to Canada (Thornhill, Ontario).

Aggie stood out in a crowd. She was glamorous in a natural, unassuming way. Lighthearted, she didn't take herself too seriously. She and Allen had the opportunity to travel the world extensively throughout Allen's career. Allen credited a lot of his success to Aggie. She played a supporting role, always at Allen's side. She was at ease with people, whether she was with dignitaries, statesmen or rural subsistence farmers. At Allen's hospitality suites, she would sing, dance and she played a mean game of poker. Lasting friendships were forged during their world travels that lasted throughout their lifetimes.

Aggie and Allen spent their retirement winters in Florida. The beach in Florida was Aggie's happy place. Almost daily she would walk the beach for a couple of hours searching for sea glass and shells, taking in the calming quality of the ocean in her unique form of meditation.

Aggie loved hosting friends and family in Florida. Famous for her cocktail parties, Aggie always came up with yummy hors d'oeuvres and the bar never closed. Aggie put her organizational skills to good use in Florida too. The weekly coffee meet ups, the parties for every season were a success mainly due to her efforts. In those later years, Aggie turned her hand to creative pursuits that she had an aptitude for painting still life's and knitting until her arthritis put a stop to them.

Because of Aggie's unbridled energy and youthfulness, she was a loving, hands on grandma, singing songs, playing cards and games, cooking her grandchildren's favourite meals whenever they visited. They brought her so much joy and she received it back in spades. She lived her best life.

Commemorating her loss but celebrating her long life are her surviving children Pam, Colette, Guy, Renee, Léo and Pierre, as well as their partners, Ed Lundy, Gerry Laviolette, Colleen Charbonneau, Ian Smith, Marie-Luc Simoneau, and Vesna Charbonneau, grandchildren Renee, Bryan, Michelle, Patrick, Spencer, Heather, Christopher, Daniel, James, Nicolas, Alec, Ethan, Nikki, Devon, and great grandchildren Owen, Grace, James, Stuart and Samantha. Her eldest son Vincent died in 1983. To Aggie, aka mum, grandma or great grandma, her adoring family was the center of her life and is her lasting legacy. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

The family wish to thank the nurses and staff at Arbour Trails Emma's Neighborhood, Bayshore palliative care nurses and the staff and volunteers at Hospice Wellington for their care for Aggie.

Arrangements entrusted to Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home, 1099 Gordon St, Guelph. A Celebration of Life will take place at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations made to Hospice Wellington would be greatly appreciated by the family. Donations and condolences can be made online at www.gilbertmacintyreandson-hart.com