Laurette (Legault) LaChapelle passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026, at the age of 86, following a long struggle with dementia. We are heartbroken by Laurette’s passing, yet we take comfort in knowing that that her long decline has ended.
Laurette was predeceased by her beloved husband of 46 years, G.A. Pierre LaChapelle. She is survived by her daughter, Adrienne (John) Morin, and her grandchildren, Wilfred, Eleanor, and Ursula. Laurette was a sister to Leonard, Gerald, and Theodore, and to Jeannette, Lily, Germaine, and Blanche, and a “favourite” aunt to her many nieces and nephews.
Born in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan, Laurette was the youngest of eight children of Ludivine and Donat Legault. While she always held a deep love for the prairies, her natural wanderlust carried her far beyond them. Her journey took her to northern Saskatchewan, California, Alberta, British Columbia, and Germany, where she worked as a nurse and met Pierre, a Canadian military officer. Military life led them across Canada and abroad, including postings in Kingston, England, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Edmonton, and Italy.
Laurette was wise, loyal, and deeply devoted to her family. She was the person you could always rely on, ready to care for an ailing loved one, paint your walls, run a garage sale, pack boxes, organize a move, or simply lend a helping hand or moral support in a difficult situation. She loved a good laugh, a good book, a good meal, and an engaging conversation.
Those who love her have mourned her loss over many years, as dementia slowly took the woman they knew so well. It was a profound sorrow to witness the gradual fading of her sharp mind and her gift for a well-placed bon mot, and to see her lose the ability to speak and recognize those closest to her.
In moments of difficulty, Laurette would often say, “This too shall pass.” Now it has— though the world is quieter for her absence.