Early evening, on September 10, 2023, Marie-Claire went to join the late Raymond Roy, her husband of 63 years. An exceptional woman has left us, leaving a huge void in the hearts of her children, Dominique (David), Stéphanie (Annie-Claude) and Alexis; her grandchildren, Cédric, Danièle (David) and Nicolas; her nephews and nieces, Pierre-François, Hubert, Christine, Emmanuelle, Geoffroy and Amélie; and her many friends; not forgetting her dog Figaro!
Born in Charleroi, Belgium, the daughter of Marcel Laterre and Elisabeth Dehavay, Marie-Claire married Raymond Roy, a career diplomat based in Brussels, in 1959. Accompanying her husband on his various appointments, notably to Venezuela as First Secretary, Algiers as Canadian Ambassador and Berlin as Consul, Marie-Claire dedicated her life to her children. She surrounded her family with love and kindness and, despite the many moves, was able to create a place that we could always call 'home'. As an ambassador’s wife, acting as Canada's unofficial representative abroad, she was Raymond's unwavering steward, brilliantly orchestrating all the logistics to support our father in his professional duties.
An elegant woman of integrity and generosity, she was unfailingly optimistic. Although she did not pursue a career of her own choosing, she dabbled as an interior decorator, master chef and landscape architect. An avid reader and traveler, with a love of nature and dogs, she was always surrounded by music and opera, often sitting down at her piano to play Chopin, Dvorak or Schubert, or to improvise on well-known songs.
Most of all, we will remember Marie-Claire for her extraordinary smile, which could brighten even the saddest of days.
In accordance with her wishes, she will be cremated and buried in the strictest privacy. A memorial service will be held in the Sacred Space at Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Road, Ottawa, on October 5, 2023 at 2 p.m. (the service will be followed by a reception).
In lieu of flowers, the family thanks you for considering a donation in her memory to The Kidney Foundation of Canada (Make a Gift to the Kidney Foundation - Make a Gift to the Kidney Foundation (akaraisin.com)) or to the Ottawa Humane Society (Donate - Ottawa Humane Society).
Chère Stéphanie,
Mes condoléances à toi et à ta famille pour la perte de ta maman et d'une femme tellement attachante. Malheureusement, les êtres qui nous sont chers finissent par quitter cette terre, mais ils ne quittent jamais nos pensées.
Je conserve d'heureux souvenirs de mes séjours au chalet avec toi et tes parents. La musique (de Marie-Claire) qui brisait le silence de la forêt lors de nos promenades résonnera toujours dans ma tête.
Bon courage mon amie, je suis de tout cœur avec toi
Avec toute mon amitié, Micheline