Madeleine Jobidon Cormier

1917 ~ 2017

Artist, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, photographer, gourmet chef and avid landscaper – true practitioner of Carpe diem.

Madeleine, the eldest daughter of Gustave and Eva Vandry Jobidon, passed on December 10, 2017 in St. Michael’s Palliative Care, after a long and full life in Lethbridge. She was married to Dr. Louis-Phillippe Cormier (Modern Languages, University of Lethbridge) who sadly passed in 2001. Madeleine is survived by one brother Louis Jobidon (Quebec city) and one sister, Josette Caya (Longueuil, MTL) as well as, her daughters Louise M. Cormier (David ‘Obrien, grandsons Aidan Cormier O’Brien and Olivier Cormier O’Brien and wife Jenn Liddell, Lethbridge) and Sylvie M. Cormier (Paul J.K. Smith, grandsons Winston Cormier-Smith, wife Kristy Closs, daughters Alexis Cormier-Smith and Isla Cormier-Smith of Airdrie, grandson Owen Cormier- Smith).

Madeleine spent her early years in the small town of Chateau Richer, nestled between the coastal mountains and the St. Laurence River not far from Quebec City. She fondly remembered the fields, forests and rivulets that surrounded her, and they remained a source of inspiration for her throughout life. She was educated in Quebec City at the Couvent des SS. De St. Joseph de St. Vallier and the newly opened École des Beaux Arts in Quebec City (1937). After finishing, she continued working in the arts as a graphic designer and painter until her marriage in 1946 to Louis-Phillippe. She was a life-long learner in the visual arts and especially enjoyed her summers in Paris while Louis taught summer school to students from Michigan State University. In 1968, Madeleine made the move to Lethbridge where they built their dream home. In the west, Madeleine continued practicing her photography but was now smitten with the wide open spaces and the formidable plays of light which led to greater abstraction. She was also a lifelong member of ACFA (French Association) and the SAAG and firmly believed it was important to support cultural organisations as they support the non-mundane treasures of life.

Good fortune smiled on Madeleine as she lived on her own until the age of 98 – the way she liked it. However, she needed help in managing daily living, so she went to live with her daughter Louise. During these later years she was especially thankful for help from Marilou. We would like to offer our profound thanks to St. Michael’s, to Home Care (especially Carol Hudson, Marilou, Bambi and the many who helped), the ER and finally, St. Michael’s Palliative Care (especially Dr. Smuts and the many nurses and assistants who showed genuine care). Thank you.

A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00pm on Friday, December 15, 2017, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 – 4th Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta with Reverend Eva Stanley, officiating. Interment to follow in the Mountain View Cemetery.