December 26, 1943 - June 28, 2020
Thérèse Leclair-Nantel, born December 26, 1943, passed away in Prince George, British Columbia, on June 28, 2020, at the age of 76 years old.
Thérèse Leclair-Nantel, most beloved and mourned by her husband Robert Nantel of Whitehorse, Yukon, will be sorely missed by her sister Cécile Snow, and her children; her nephew Roger Leclair, junior; her brothers and sisters-law, Liliane, Micheline, Ghislaine, and Gilles, and their spouses; along with many nephews and nieces, and many friends and former colleagues.
According to Thérèse's wishes, funeral services were held privately last July 4, 2020.
Thérèse arrived in Yukon during the cold, dark month of December 1969 and never left.
Upon her arrival, she worked in different jobs before choosing a career in early childhood education. She worked at the Garderie du petit cheval blanc in Whitehorse for 15 years before retiring in 2007. At the end of her career, she also worked at Les petits anges de Céline Daycare.
Her songs have rocked many Yukon children, and her patience and affection have dried their tears. She had her little ones dancing jigs to the sound of her playing the spoons before they could barely walk. Her generosity and patience were boundless.
Throughout her career as a childcare worker, she pursued her own professional development, all the while contributing greatly to the advancement of the Francophone early childhood education services in the territory.
Thérèse lived a life of simplicity, grace and discretion. She left us in her typically quiet way. Her community lives on, better to have known her, yet dealing with a great sense of loss, and a void difficult to fill.
The memory of her smile will remain in our hearts forever.