Cecile Blanche Kenuck (Marechal) passed away peacefully with family by her side at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital ICU on August 11, 2015.
Cecile was born in Rosslyn Village on July 7, 1931. She was the eldest of five children of Joseph and Blanche Marechal. She grew up in the Rosslyn area and had to leave school to help her parents run the family farm.
Cecile married Henry John (Snuffy) Kenuck on October 21, 1950, and they moved to Upsala to raise their large family.
Cecile’s greatest love was her family. She was also a “ Mom/Grandma” to many in Upsala and she welcomed anybody into her home with open arms. Family gatherings were very important to Cecile and every holiday was an opportunity for her to cook up perogies, cabbage rolls, turkey, ham and all the trimmings topped off with a selection of homemade pies.
Phone calls from her children, grandchildren and numerous friends in the community or elsewhere would be the highlight of her day. Updating everyone on how the rest of the family was doing or what was happening in the community was her objective.
Cecile loved to go berry picking for strawberries, raspberries and blueberries and ferociously defended her picking patch from any black bear that was foolish enough to intrude.
Fishing was another love Cecile enjoyed with her husband, children and grandchildren. Camping trips or one day workout fishing adventures were a weekend occurrence. After Snuffy passed, Cecile would jump at the opportunity to fish with anyone that asked her along. Cecile enjoyed many good fishing times on Hay Lake with her good friend Corky Leganchuk .
Cecile was a long-time member of the Upsala Women’s Institute, the Upsala Volunteer Ambulance Association, the Upsala Recreation Committee and the Upsala United Church. She loved her community and she made it absolutely clear to her children that she was going to live her final years in Upsala.
Cecile is survived by her sons Hank (Cleo), Ricky, Tim, Allen ( grandchildren: Shallen, Tamara, Trevor, great grandchildren: Jarvis, Mason and Danica), Brian (grandchildren: Ashlin, Paul, Kate, Anne- Marie), and her daughters Kathy (Bill Phelan) (grandchildren: Suzanne, Caroline, Christine, Brian, great grandchild: Morgan), and Brenda (grandchildren: Brittany, Kristen, Mitchell, Lindsey). Also survived by brothers Albert (Donna) Marechal and Richard Marechal and several nieces and nephews.
Cecile was predeceased by her parents Joseph and Blanche Marechal, son Johnny and daughter Jacqueline, husband Henry (Snuffy) Kenuck, sisters Mary Holowka and Yvonne McNabb.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of Cecile’s life will be held at the Upsala Community Center on Saturday August 29th at twelve noon, following a private family service at the Upsala Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Thunder Bay RegionalHealth Sciences Foundation.
