Germaine Brunel

Germaine Adrienne Marie Mathilde Brunel (Lepine)

July 5, 1922 to November 10, 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing our beloved Mother, Memere and Grandmere, Germaine Brunel of Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba at the age of 101 years old.

Germaine was born at home in the RM of Tecumseh near Forget, Saskatchewan to James Lepine and Marie Humbert. She is the granddaughter of Cecile Marion and Ambroise D. Lepine, Adjutant General to Louis Riel. She was very proud of her Metis heritage.

The Lepine family moved by train from Forget, Saskatchewan to Valpoy, Manitoba in 1934 due to 7 years of drought. She says that she would not change anything about her life.

On November 3, 1942, she married Jean-Louis Brunel and settled into married life on the Brunel farm in the Methley area (north of Ste. Rose). Farming was a busy life but she always had time for family. She spent many hours in her garden and flower beds. We all knew that this was her happy place. Growing up the house was full of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She always made sure that if someone stopped by around meal time that there was enough food for everyone. The door was always open.

Germaine was a very spiritual woman and a faithful Catholic. She practiced her faith quietly every day in everything she did.

Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was always excited with the drawings, phone calls, the visits and loved hearing about their lives. She made sure they knew that they were loved unconditionally.

Germaine was a caregiver – caring for the sick, being asked to sit with family and friends when they were sick or passing away. She was a home care worker for a friend who did not want anyone else taking care of her.

Germaine was predeceased by her beloved husband Jean-Louis in 2008, her granddaughter Allison Bass in 2008, her great-grandson Larsen Brunel in 2012, her siblings Emile (Marguerite and Berthe) Lepine, Mathilde (Bob) Brems, Liliane (Ludger) Vallee, Rene (Dorothy) Lepine, Maria (James) Flower, Blanche (Walter) Powney, Wilfred (Amelie) Lepine, Eugenie (Tony) Bonin.

Left to cherish her memory her son Paul (Elvier), Robert (Erin), Myley and Macklan; Jennifer (Geoff) Baker, Joshua and Griffin; her son Emile (Irene), Derek (Shelly), Aiden and Nate; Dominic (Shelley), Adison and Quinn; Celeste; Marc (Tamara), Bensen; her daughter Jeannie (Lloyd) Bass, Kevin (Dawn), Rebecca, Allie and Finley; her daughter Annette (Gerald) Chammartin, David, Cobin and Damon; Bryan (Eric Mitchell); her daughter Michelle (Gerald Ingelbeen), Shari (Jason) Lafreniere, Avery and Tanner.

Germaine always saw the bright side of things. During the tough times she always said “it will all work out in the wash.” During certain situations she would say “C’est comme ça”.

Her advice for anyone: Work hard, be kind, love and respect one another.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the Ste. Rose de Lima Roman Catholic Church, Ste. Rose du Lac, MB.  

Fr. Patrick Neufeld will celebrate the mass with interment following in the Ste. Rose Cemetery

Should friends so desire, please consider remembering Germaine by making a donation in her memory to the Dr. Gendreau Personal Care Home or the Ste. Rose General Hospital c/o the Prevost Foundation, Box 60, Ste. Rose du Lac, MB, R0L 1S0

The family would like to thank Dr. Gudmundson and all the other doctors who attended her, the staff at the Ste. Rose General Hospital and the Dr. Gendreau Personal Care Home for their great care and compassion.

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