After a brave battle with cancer, Ginette Bocage-Brown passed away peacefully on September 8th, 2024, surrounded by family and friends. Ginette was born March 4th, 1944, in Roberval, QC, to parents Bernardin Beaucage and Carmel Roux. She leaves behind Leighton, her husband of 53 years, her two sons Patrick (Rachel) and Ian (Aimy) and her five beloved grandchildren Jake, Jason, Emmett, Evelyn and Elise. She was pre-deceased by sisters Rejeanne, Lizette and Louise and survived by siblings Normand (Celine), Michelle (Jacques), Francine (Michel) and Diane (Denis) and 13 nieces and nephews.
After completing university and teacher training, Ginette began her professional career in Roberval. In 1965, she accepted the challenge of moving to Peterborough to help develop and implement a new French language training program. This proved so successful that she was recruited to help implement a similar program for the Canadian Military elementary schools in Germany. Four years in Germany allowed her to travel extensively throughout Europe and cemented her passion for travel which she would continue to enjoy for the rest of her life.
Upon returning to Ottawa in 1970, she accepted a teaching job on the Rockcliffe airbase at Vincent Massey School. There, she met Leighton to whom she was married on July 3rd, 1971. They later had two sons, Patrick (1976) and Ian (1979). These two young and active boys caused Ginette to passionately refocus her attention on family matters.
She was committed to volunteering and selflessly giving her time to numerous organizations and community efforts, including Children’s International Summer Villages (CISV), Friendship Force, Elisabeth-Bruyère Health Center and Notre-Dame Cathedral, welcoming and helping new Canadians successfully transition to their new lives in Canada. Her passion for travel brough her to many memorable places throughout the world where she created lasting friendships. Of her many travels, highlights included several trips to Germany, Belgium, Holland, Japan, Mexico, Italy and to her favourite destination, the city of Rome. Her later years found her enjoying her favourite activities of gardening, cottage time enjoying nature and precious moments with her grandchildren. Ginette cherished and maintained personal relationships with many lifelong friends.
Visitation will take place on Monday, September 23rd in the Sacred Space at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, from 12:30PM. A Celebration of Life ceremony will begin at 2PM and will be followed by a reception.
We would like to thank the devoted and caring staff at Maison de L'Est hospice for the exceptional care she received in her final days.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society in memory of Ginette would be appreciated.
Digital Guestbook
Jacques Dallaire
Renée Roux
A toute la famille mes plus sincères condoléances
Renée Roux - Roberval
Renée Roux
A toute la famille mes plus sincères condoléances.
Danielle Roux et Bob St-Pierre
Toutes nos sympathies à toute la famille
Danielle et Bob - Ste-Hedwidge-de-Roberval
Martin Lamontagne
La vie nous réserve de belles rencontres et la rencontre de Ginette fut l’une d’entre elles. J’ai eu la chance de faire sa connaissance il y a plus de 20 ans et chaque instant passé en sa compagnie a été mémorable, puisqu’elle était une personne formidable, simple, authentique, spontanée, généreuse, accueillante et débordante d’énergie. Je garde de merveilleux souvenirs de notre amitié pendant toutes ces années. Merci Ginette pour tous ces beaux moments partagés avec toi. Un vide se fait déjà ressentir depuis ton départ.
Mes plus sincères condoléances aux familles Bocage et Brown.
Martin Lamontagne
Low et Gatineau, Québec
Raymond Martel
Elle a dû vous parler de sa tante Cécille et oncle Paul. Je suis leur fils Raymond et d'apprendre son décès aujourd'hui me ramène à sa personnalité et son sourire. A toute la famille je souhaite nos plus sincère condoléances. Raymon et Rita
Leah Marchuk and Philip Bustard
Sincere sympathies to the whole family for your loss. Ginette was a wonderful neighbour to us and we only wish we could have had more time to get to know her. We are thinking of Leighton, Ian, Patrick and family.
Family Scherlippens-Demyttenaere (hans, els, ine, eva)
Pure coincidence during the visit of Ginette and Leighton to Belgium, now years ago, brought them in the lives of my wife, myself and our daughters, "her papillons" as she used to call them . The friendship remained and grew throughout the years, resulting in visits hence and forth, and so it was our privilege that we were able to spend a precious and valuable time with her and her warm family during our latest visit this summer. We are also aware and realise that Christmas this year and the years to come will never be the same, having to miss the traditional "Ginette letter" to her Belgian friends, in her small but accurate handwriting and filled with pictures of the cottage, the grondchildren, the Ottawa snowy scenery ... do accept our deepest condolences and strenght to the family to cope with this. Hans, Els, Ine, Eva
Franceska Gnarowski
Our condolences to Leighton and family. We spent many delightful moments in Ginette's company. She was always energetic, enthusiastic and engaged. We admired and respected her commitment to the causes she supported and to the family she was so devoted to. She gave more than she took...may her journey be peaceful and light-filled. Chris and Franceska
Lowell and Joanne Lockyer
Ginette was a warm and giving person, always ready to help out . Always had a kind word or to compliment you . We became friends through our partners who shared a love of motorcycles and would get together for fun and some good laughs. Ginette will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
A toute la famille nos sincères condoléances
Jacques et Jocelyne Dallaire