BLAIS , Cécile (Millette)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Cécile Blais (Millette). Born in 1921 in Timmins to Félix Millette and Amanda Léveillé, she was the 10th child of 13. She met the love of her life, Servais Blais, in Ottawa while completing her bachelor’s degree. Both were educators who touched many lives in Ottawa and Monetville. They married in 1951. While they were still newlyweds, she brought him to Timmins to meet her family where he met a family friend who was a physician, and decided then that he wanted to become a medical doctor. Cécile taught in Rockcliffe, enabling Servais to pursue his studies at Ottawa University. They started a family and practiced in Ottawa, then moved to Sudbury where she became the first woman real estate appraiser in the city. She was a wonderful mother and took care of many cousins during the summer at the family cottage on lake Penage. After Servais’ passing, she returned to University and earned a second degree, this time in Philosophy, when she was 69 years old. Cécile was an excellent chef – people travelled for miles and miles for her butterscotch pie. She enjoyed a good game of bridge and loved spending time with her family. She is survived by her children Luc, Josée, Paul (Paula Zanutto), and Sylvie (Gilles Labre). She was an avid reader, and even after losing her eyesight continued to read several audio books on her Victor Reader. Visitation is at the Coopérative Funéraire on Lasalle Blvd,Thursday, March 3rd, 7 – 9 and the funeral celebration will be presided by Fr. Jean-Pierre Couillard will be held Friday at 1pm in the chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the CNIB or Médecins Sans Frontière (MSF) Toronto.