Colette (Demers) Beaupre

Colette  “ Big Mom”  Beaupre

December 5, 1938  ~  June 7, 2021 (age 82)

Colette Beaupre, 82, of Port Sydney, ON, passed away peacefully and quickly with family by her side at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital on June 7th, 2021.  Colette was born in North Bay to the late Roland Demers and Jeanne Lebel.  Growing up in the city of Pembroke with her beloved older brother Maurice Demers.

Colette graduated from the Lorraine School of Nursing in 1960.  Nursing and therefore caring was in her blood and spoke about how during Covid there was a plea for retired nurses to help out, but she would say “I’m a little too old to go back”.  We are pretty sure she would have if she could.  Colette was passionate of her accomplishments in the field of nursing and mentioned to us on Sunday that June 6th was her 61st anniversary.  After graduation, Colette began her career as a Nurse at Pembroke Regional Hospital in the maternity ward for 10 years before taking a position at Miramichi Lodge Nursing home.  She married the late John Beaupre and they had 4 children:  David, Suzanne (her little angel in heaven) ,Michael and Judy.  Colette and family decided to move to Muskoka in 1980.  She immediately fell in love with the area and worked as a nurse with the Greig Medical Group with Dr. Black,  Dr. Eaton, Dr.  Moran and Dr. Cross until her retirement.

Colette met her beloved and loving partner John Somerset in 1990 and they have been together ever since, residing in the beautiful village of  Port Sydney, ON.  She purchased a home on the same street as her daughter Judy and son-in- law Jamie Vanderveer and John’s two children Amanda and Trevor Somerset.   Colette was immensely proud of her entire family and leaves behind beautiful memories.   She loved spending time and with her two grandchildren:  Cameron Vanderveer and Melanie Healey now married to Curtis Healey.  She has 4 great grandchildren:  Olivia Vanderveer age 5 twin to Nolan Vanderveer (our little angel in heaven) , Zayden Healey age 2 and newborn Everly Vanderveer born May 27th, 2021.  Colette loved being with them, watching them explore, play and grow.  Colette was Aunt Colette & great Aunt Colette by many:  The Forini, Demers, Beaupre and Harmer Families.

Colette had a lot of hobbies and interests:  camping with John and all of their friends at their trailer every summer.  She was quite the party and event planner at the park. Everyone loved her creativity & shenanigans.   Colette was an avid gardener and always had the most beautiful perennial gardens. She loved a glass of wine or two, playing a variety of cards, dancing, socializing, reminiscing about the good old days, talking politics, but the most important thing to Colette was her family! Each and every one of us are extremely blessed to have this amazing caring, strong, loving person in our lives.   She will be deeply missed by all who knew her professionally, as a friend and mostly anyone who was her family.  We all love you and Miss You each and every day!

A Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, August 1, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.  Please RVSP to Judy ASAP by email:   judy.vanderveer66@outlook.com or text 705-349-3303.   In lieu of flowers, donations to the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital or the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation would be appreciated.

Her Journey’s Just Begun

By an Unknown Author

Don’t think of her as gone away
her journey’s just begun
life holds so many facets
this earth is only one.
Just think of her as resting
from the sorrows and the tears
in a place of warmth and comfort
where there are no days or years.
Think how she must be wishing
that we could know today
how nothing but our sadness
can really pass away.
And think of her as living
in the hearts of those she touched
for nothing loved is ever lost
and she was loved so much.