Marguerite (Margo) Brulotte, 1919-2008

Marguerite Mary (Margo) Brulotte was born in Malta, Montana July 20, 1919 and passed away in her sleep Jan. 26 at the age of 88 years. Margo was the youngest of four children born to Antonin and Madeleine Janelle. Her parents, Papere and Mamere, were farmers. While in Montana, Mamere had been corresponding with a priest in Donnelly, who told them about the abundance of land available for homesteading in that northern Alberta area. The family moved to Donnelly where Papere took up a homestead and became a farmer. On Oct. 26, 1938, Margo married Thomas Ernest (Ernie) Brulotte. Ernie was the oldest son of Francois (Frank) and Amanda Brulotte, a large French Canadian family, from Guy. Ernie and Margo spent many years setting up tie camps around Kenzie and Kathleen, making railroad ties as well as sawing lumber. The forest industry called, so Ernie and Margo moved with their young family to the Slave lake area where Ernie built sawmills and operated lumber camps. Margo was busy with the family, cooking for camp crews, canning, sewing and home schooling the oldest children. Margo was known everywhere as a great cook. Sometimes, at Swanson lumber camps, Margo cooked all the meals for over 200 men. She also baked the bread, made the pies and buckets of cookies and doughnuts. In 1950, the family moved to the High Prairie area where they took up a homestead in Gilwood and put down deep roots. The children were bused to school in High Prairie. Upon their arrival home, the children were often welcomed with the wonderful, fragrant smells of fresh-baked bread, home-baked beans, moose burgers, doughnuts, or dad’s favourite raisin pie. There was always room for one more at the table. When unexpected company arrived, Margo would put another cup of water in the soup or more dumplings in the stew. Margo was a happy person. While she baked or did her household chores she hummed, whistled or sang Don’t’ Fence Me In, Bluebird on your Windowsill and many other favourite songs of that era. Margo was the original multi-tasker. In addition to raising the children, cooking, cleaning, canning and helping with homework, she sewed most of the family’s clothing, including coats, parkas, blouses, jeans, shirts, dresses and sun bonnets. While Ernie cared for the family on the farm - and to supplement the farm income - Margo was sometimes at Aggie cooking for a large number of workers at Swanson’s planer and sawmill. With the difficulties of making a good living on the farm, the family moved to High Prairie where Ernie worked for Frank O’Brien. Margo was the always cheerful main cook at Alma’s Café and later was the camp cook for Frank O’Brien. Margo loved writing poetry. Many times at Aggie she would exchange poems with John, the bull cook, or Smitty. Ernie and Margo loved fishing. The family has fond memories or fishing trips to the Grouard area. Margo canned umpteen jars of fish for the family’s enjoyment over the winter. In later years, Ernie and Margo loved salmon fishing in the Kitimat, B.C. area or fishing at Shaw’s Point. The photos prove the big ones didn’t always get away. Ernie and Margo raised seven children: Louise, Raymond, Annette, Yvonne, Lawrence, Leonard and June. Ernie passed away suddenly Feb. 26, 1985. Margo kept herself busy with family, traveling, bowling, floor curling and many, many card playing trips with the Golden Age Club. Margo loved to play cards. When visiting her, friends and family would burn lots of midnight oil paying gin rummy, cribbage or other favourite card games. Margo also loved gardening. She always had a huge garden and she shared the produce and raspberries with family and friends. When the yard and garden got too much for Margo to handle, she sold the family home and moved into Pleasantview Lodge. Margo was happy there. If you couldn’t find her in her room, she was playing cribbage with friends. She loved watching TV game shows, curling on TV - especially the Tournament of Hearts. She loved to knit - she was a whiz at knitting - all of the family has an afghan that Margo made especially for them. The family has also received a good supply of knitted dishcloths. The girls will always treasure the scarves Margo made for them. Margo loved making crafts. She was especially fond of the time she spent with her niece, Sally, making ‘Archibald, the Walking Stork’. Everyone had a lot of laughs together over that goofy bird. She was also a rock hound. Margo found it very difficult to go for a walk without picking up at least one “special rock” to add to her collection. It’s a habit much of the family has inherited. Margo loved spending time with her family. She had a very special relationship with her many grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Margo is survived by: her sister, Albertine Jaworski, 92, of Port Alberni, B.C.; her children Louise (Joe) Zahacy, Annette (Gary) Ree- der, Yvonne (Dereck) Larsen, Lawrence (Sandy) Brulotte, Leonard (Marie) Bru- lotte, and June Brulotte-Seutter; her sisters-in-laws, Josephine and Claire; brother-in-law Del- phis Brulotte; 18 grandchildren and their families; 27 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and their families; and many, many friends. Margo was predeceased by: her parents, Antonin and Madelaine Janelle; her husband, Ernie; her brother, John Janelle; her sister, Suzanne; her son, Raymond; and her infant daughter, Evelyn.

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