It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Johanne Dumont on February 17, 2026, after a very brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Her departure was unexpected, and the loss is felt deeply by all who loved her.
Johanne was born on November 25, 1946, in Buckingham, Québec, where she grew up as the middle child between two brothers. She pursued a degree in education that began a lifelong commitment to learning, teaching, and championing the French language wherever life took her – including correcting the grammar of unsuspecting strangers for the next 60 years.
On February 14, 1981, she married Dennis Clark, beginning a 45‑year partnership filled with love, adventure, and a shared life that took them across Canada and beyond. Their journey with the Royal Canadian Air Force brought them to Barrie, ON; Dayton, OH; Cold Lake, AB; Ottawa, ON; Rastatt, Germany; and Washington, D.C., each place adding new stories, friendships, and memories. As a military wife, she had no choice but to follow and support Dennis in his endeavours, stepping away from her teaching career while raising their daughter, Mélanie. One can only imagine the challenges of living abroad in a time before the internet, when staying connected to home meant navigating time zones and expensive long‑distance calls. A storage space lined with moving boxes (like soldiers at the ready for the next posting) was a familiar fixture in her home.
Johanne was firm in her belief that education was the key to all doors in life. Even when those pursuits meant additional challenges, she encouraged (well, pushed really) to persevere when hardships were felt. For instance, she convinced Dennis to turn down a civilian engineering job in Ottawa, to remain in the military and pursue his Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology. This encouragement ultimately led to a special moment cherished between them: Johanne took it upon herself, on behalf of the Canadian Air Force, to personally and ceremoniously affix the new rank epaulets to Dennis’ uniform and announce his promotion after class one day. She also nurtured Mélanie’s own educational journey through the French Lycées in both Germany and Washington, D.C., culminating in her higher degrees from the University of Ottawa. In the last few years, Johanne also volunteered at the elementary school, helping children who faced challenges to read.
She filled her life with things she loved the most: her “Peanuts” granddaughters (Nève and Mina), shopping, reading, music, travel, politics, current events, good food and wine, flowers and plants, and the simple pleasure of connecting with others. She lived life loudly and vibrantly, in her wardrobe, her music, and her spirit.
Johanne had a deep appreciation for beauty in all its forms: in nature, in art, in people, and in the small details that others might overlook. She noticed the world closely and celebrated it openly, whether through a perfectly arranged bouquet, a thoughtfully chosen outfit, or the way she paused to admire something lovely simply because it deserved to be admired.
She approached the world with curiosity, humour, and a strong sense of self. She was a passionate defender of the French language, a talented cook especially when it came to the more elaborate meals involving roasts or turkey, and a loyal supporter of store‑bought desserts. She enjoyed several cruises each year, collected chicken figurines with enthusiasm, and affectionately referred to Dennis as “l’anglais” and “mon chum.”
There were also things she met with far less enthusiasm: any type of manual labour, house cleaning, paperwork, and her husband’s Tesla – which she regarded with a level of skepticism and a healthy amount of eyerolls that became a family joke.
Johanne was never defined by the hardships she endured. She was admired as a strong, capable, and fiercely independent woman who laid the groundwork for her daughter and granddaughters to follow. Johanne lived fully, loved deeply, and brought colour and energy wherever she went. Her absence is profound, but so is the love she leaves behind; and the enduring spirit of strong women she helped shape.
Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life at Beechwood Funeral Home (280 Beechwood Ave., Ottawa) on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, from at 1-3 pm. Guests unable to attend in person are invited to join us via live stream.
In honour of Johanne’s life and in gratitude for the two cornea transplants that greatly improved her quality of life, donations may be made to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) – an organization she deeply admired and supported.
Sign the digital guestbook