Obituary of Marie Fernande Vautour

The family of Marie Fernande (Ferne) Vautour (Deschênes), 86, of Fredericton are saddened to announce her passing on September 18, 2024, at the Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville, NB.  She was born on March 23, 1938, to Arthur and Hélène Deschênes (Côté) in Grand Falls, NB and was the seventh of ten children.

She married Clifford Vautour of Grand Falls, NB on September 7, 1959 and they began their new life in Fredericton, NB. They had three children, Monique, Pamela and Joel. Ferne began her newly married life as a seamstress at Levine’s department store but not long after enjoyed a long career she loved as a civil servant in both the Department of Fisheries and as a Human Resource officer with Board of Management, retiring in 1993.

Ferne had unlimited talents. She sewed for herself, her children and others well into her 80’s. You were very likely to find her at many craft shows with her unique beach pants, silk pillow cases and velcro wrap-around towels.   She was a passionate gardener, flowers and vegetables alike.  She loved watching the small creatures she fed around the house – birds, squirrels, and many a deer made their way to the yard to find her crops most delectable. She was a fabulous cook, creator of things and successful at whatever she tried.   She lived with an attitude that you could do anything if you tried, and with that attitude she enrolled herself at the University of New Brunswick in her mid 40’s and amazed us with knocking off many an accounting course. She passed on that attitude to her children. However, her absolute greatest source of pleasure was her grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. She was generous with her admiration and compliments, and never failed to show interest in their thoughts and activities.

Ferne is survived by her spouse, Clifford; daughter, Monique (Andrew) McLeod, of Fredericton, NB, and son Joel Vautour (Lori Smith) of Fredericton, NB; grandchildren, Jordan McLeod (Joshua Peters) of Charlottetown, PEI, Marin McLeod (Andrew Wojcicki) of Fredericton, NB, Renée-Claude Vautour and Mylène Vautour, of Fredericton, and step-great-grandchildren, Adam and Alex Wojcicki. She is also survived by her sisters, Yvette Gagnon of Grand Falls, NB, Jeanette Rioux of Campbellton, NB, and Rita Côté (Ralph) of Drummond, NB; brothers, Jean Deschênes (Edwina) of Grand Falls, NB, Fernand Deschênes (Gloria Savoie) of Fredericton, NB, and Roland Deschênes (Wendy) of Dartmouth, NSas well as a large contingent of nieces and nephews.

Ferne was predeceased by daughter, Pamela, in 1964; daughter-in-law, Ginette Savoie; her parents, Arthur and Hélène Deschênes; sister, Leonie Godbout, and brothers, Yvon Deschênes (Jacqueline), Onile Deschênes (Mae).  

Funeral arrangements are under the care of McAdams Funeral Home in Fredericton, NB. By request, there will be no visitation. A Mass of Christian Burial to be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at Ste-Anne-des-Pays-Bas, 715 Priestman St., Fredericton, NB, with Father Peter W. Melanson officiating. Interment will follow immediately after the mass at the Hermitage Cemetery, 395 Woodstock Road, Fredericton, NB. The service will conclude at the cemetery with no additional gathering.

Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Upper River Valley Hospital Foundation, in Waterville, NB, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.