On July 1, 2015, Josephine Fontaine, our dear loving mother and grandmother passed away peacefully in her 88th year at Roseview Manor. This was 69 years from the day she landed in Canada as a Canadian Warbride from England.
She was born on December 15th, 1926, exactly one year to the day after her loving brother James "Jim" to parents James and Frances Goddard (Ledwood) in Birmingham, England.
She attended school along with her brother until they were both able to join the English Army and serve their country during WW II. During her time in the army she met and married her loving husband of 60 years, Phillip, a Canadian Military Policeman, stationed in Aldershot, England. He picked her up for speeding and thus became their life long journey of love.
Her family, her home and garden as well as many friends were her main loves; however, she did work many years in retail "On the Avenue" and the last few years until she retired in the early 80's, at Willport Realty as an agent.
In the early years of retirement she and her beloved Phil travelled extensively to England, across Canada and were "Snowbirds" in Florida and Arizona. The last few years, summers were spent at Lac de Mille Lac, (Pine Point) where they had many friends and family. In later years they resided at Amethyst Harbour, in the summer, where family and friends regularly gathered from far and wide
Josephine is survived by her three daughters , Wendy Kirkpatrick (Murray) , Linore Fontaine (Bill) and Michele Bonnar (Dan); her brother James Goddard (Jean) in England; brother-in-law Omer Fontaine; sister-in-law Germaine Lazinski; as well as grandchildren Meghan (Sean), Graham (Joline), Grant (Chanel) ,Geoffrey (Paige), Katrina (Bill), Brent(Sarah) ; great grandchildren, Sarah and Frankie Cicchitano , Mason and Jace Martin ,Taylor Dawn, Wyatt and Hattie Berg; as well as numerous nieces and nephews in Canada and England.
She was predeceased by her loving husband Phillip in 2006; parents James and Frances Goddard; her sister-in-law Nora Fontaine; brother-in-law Frank Lazinski; her beloved Granddaughter Shawna Cicchitano (Kirkpatrick) and her pet companion of many years "Pepin".
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 in the Chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre, 499 North Cumberland Street, presided by Rev. Msgr. P. M. Stilla, V.G., of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Visitation for family and friends will begin one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, should friends so desire, donations may be made in Josephine's memory to Hospice Northwest Thunder Bay.
