Marie passed away unexpectedly in her home, in Revelstoke October 1, 2010, at the age of 85. Born July 27, 1925, in Queen Victoria Hospital in Revelstoke, she was the youngest of three children. She was predeceased by her parents Sarah and Eugene Lessard and brothers Eugene (Shirley), Wilfred (Patricia), and nephew Bob Lessard. She is survived by two sons. Norm and Ray (Sandra) Bruce of Vancouver and the Lessard family in Ontario.
Marie graduated from Revelstoke High School and worked at Walter’s Grocery, Queen Victoria Hospital, Canadian Pacific Railway (crew clerk) and The Revelstoke Co-op. She was married to RB (Bob) Bruce of Golden, BC in 1948 and they had two sons, Norm and Ray. In 1963 she relocated to Merritt, BC where she worked for several years at the Family Shoe Store and as a desk clerk at the Valnicola Hotel. She later lived in Victoria, BC for a short time before moving to 100 Mile House, BC where she lived for 25 years. She worked at the Red Coach Inn, the Medical Center and an Automotive Dealership where she met Jan Knaap. They married and operated an Automotive Service business for several years.
Marie loved the Cariboo and the friends she made there. She volunteered in the senior’s center and worked as a teacher’s aide at 100 Mile Secondary School.
She returned to Revelstoke in 1992 where she spent her remaining years in retirement. Marie had a great zest for life, loved to laugh and touched many lives along the way. She was dearly loved and will be sadly missed by all who knew her.
No service by request. Donations can be made to a charity of choice in her name. Interment will be in the Lessard family plot in Mountain View Cemetery.
Special note of appreciation to Jason and Brydon Roe, neighbours Anita May and Rosalyn Nelles, Gary Sulz (Brandon Bowers) and the Revelstoke RCMP Detachment.
Cremation arrangements were in the care of Brandon Bowers Funeral Home, Revelstoke.
