Colette Chaloux (née Allain) succumbed to a brief illness at 82 years young after bravely fighting and surviving multiple brushes with death over the past 20 years -- once again demonstrating her resilience and fighting spirit to the very end. Sadly, her ailing body overcame her boundless spirit at the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa on 2 February 2019, when she passed away quietly in the presence of her two beloved children. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 41 years, Maurice; her parents Hervé and Lucienne; as well as her sister Monique and brother Richard. Cherished by countless, she is survived by her son Robert (Susan) and daughter Lynne, her beloved grandchildren Maryse, Eric and Zachary; and her brother Robert (Joan). She will be remembered with tremendous love by Bruce Johnson, Harold Spence, Jo-Anne Allain, many nieces and nephews, in-laws, friends, and countless people whose lives were touched and inspired by her love, compassion, warmth, charm and grace.

Born and raised in Montreal, she spent the vast majority of her life there until relocating to Ottawa in spring 2017 to live closer to her children. In her younger years, she worked for Statistics Canada, Elections Canada and Pinkerton Flowers. She loved people (with a special affinity for children), music, working, shopping, reading, entertaining, the arts, politics, and good wine. Her kids benefited from her zest for life, being whisked away to live adventures every day and learn about the world around them. She practically lived at the Jazz Fest every summer, she worshipped and thanked God daily for her blessings, and she was an extraordinarily proud Canadian. But her biggest love of all was for her family.

Our Mom had a special way with people, she befriended everyone she met and quickly made them feel important and loved. She was extraordinarily resilient, positive, selfless, independent, and kind. Despite her multiple health setbacks and tremendous chronic pain, she never complained and she faced every adversity with a smile on her beautiful face. She remained young-at-heart to her dying breath with an amazing joie de vivre, appreciating every single minute of every day and feeling grateful for her life and the people in it. She knew the purpose of life is to live it – and that, she did. She asked for nothing, and yet gave everything, always, to everyone. Without ever wanting to draw attention to herself, she made a tremendous impact on all those fortunate enough to be in her orbit.

A celebration of her life will be held at Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue in Ottawa, on Friday 8 February at 3 pm.