Mercedes Daoust Charlebois is a very special woman, a true force of nature. Not only will the resident of Saint-Polycarpe reach the venerable age of 100, on February 22nd, 2022, she has the privilege of still living in her house on rue Elie-Auclair thanks to the support of family and friends.
The privilege was that of The Southwest Voice to have been able to meet the woman who maintains her lucidity by doing crossword puzzles and playing solitaire on her tablet. The wife of the late Louis Charlebois inspires her 9 children, 13 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren as well as spouses, who thank her for all the love she has lavished around her.
In normal times, the centenarian woman would have celebrated a century of life in an enclosure in the company of her family members. The plans have been changed due to the pandemic and it is in the backyard of the residence occupied by Mrs. Charlebois for 72 years that the party will take place.
COVID-19 as such has spared the health of the centenarian native of Saint-Polycarpe, but the last two years have had the effect of changing her lifestyle at the family level. “On New Year’s Day, we rented the hall at the arena and it has not been possible for two years. Our mother must content herself with waving at the grandchildren through the window. On her 99th birthday, she went out on the back porch to see the family”, says Sylvie Charlebois who, at the age of 58, is the youngest of the Charlebois couple’s 9 children.
“We do a lot of Skype to allow her to communicate with the family. We can’t wait to start having picnics again, doing family activities”, she says.
Married to Louis Charlebois for 73 years until her husband’s death in 2008, Mrs. Mercedes states that she has had a full life. Queen of the home to raise her 7 sons and two daughters, the centenarian woman has nonetheless been busy, particularly through her leisure activities with her offspring and weaving within the Cercle des fermières, in addition to bowling. “I made several trips to Quebec, Western Canada, the United States and Europe. My trip to Rome is one of my fondest memories”, recalls Mrs. Charlebois.
“My mother organized almost everything for family activities while my father had to work several hours at Hydro-Québec”, adds Sylvie Charlebois. Today, the pendulum is swinging the other way for Mercedes Daoust Charlebois as members of her family and others around her join forces to ensure the well-being of this exceptional woman.
