Ginette Brigham

It is with profound sorrow that our family had to bid farewell to our beloved Mother, Grandmother, GG and Sister on September 18, 2022. She departed this world peacefully after a brief yet valiant battle with cancer.

Born in the small town of Mattawa, ON, she came into this world to the delight of her parents Ernest and Juliette Matte. An astonishingly beautiful baby by any account, her trademark big blue eyes opened to the world and thus she began her earthly journey.

Ginette sought adventures beyond small town life and married and relocated to Ottawa, ON where she bore 4 children which she leaves behind; Robert (Rhonda) Brigham, Connie (Aaron) Brigham, Kimberly (Daryl) Switzer and Jennifer Wright.

The absolute light of her life were her grandchildren and great grandchild. Left broken hearted without her and yet forever grateful that they had such a warm and loving example of how to live a virtuous life are, in birth order; Victoria, Nicholas (pre-deceased at 9 years of age on December 24, 2006), Jayden, Emma, Austin, Carson, Amber, Lucas, Joel and last but not least her only great grandchild little Dominic.

She was a middle child of many children. She is predeceased by her parents and many brothers and sisters. She leaves behind sisters Gisele Angus, Diane Fleming, Carole Maxwell and Lynne Downey and brothers Claude Matte, Gerry Matte and Gilles Matte. She enjoyed many girls trips with her sisters over the years and shared stories of their antics and laughs together upon her return. They were a blessing in her life and she would have wanted them all to never forget that.

Ginette proudly worked for the University of Ottawa in the Department of Linguistics for over 25 years. She greatly enjoyed her daily interactions with her coworkers. A point of pride every year was the annual door decorating contest at Christmas time where she spearheaded her departments’ entry with her trusty glue gun and armed with fabrics and glitter went to work and was subsequently victorious on numerous occasions.

She loved nature and was incredibly crafty whether it be sewing or painting; there was nothing she couldn’t replicate or mend. Her favourite time of year was Christmas. A deeply religious woman, she led her life according to the Bible and her last breaths were taken while clutching her rosary.

Always the quintessential lady, Ginette moved through the world with a gentle grace and quiet fortitude. Never one to raise her voice, she guided her children to always look for the compromise in times of conflict. To go forth and do onto others as you would have done to you. Say please and thank you and even if someone might not deserve your kindness, to be kind anyways.

Momma; our hearts are broken, but we are doing our very best to make you proud every single day. We know you didn’t want to go. If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.  Visitation will be held at the Garden Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 3440 Richmond Road, Ottawa (between Bayshore and Baseline rd.) on Sunday, September 25, 2022, from 1-3 and 5-7 p.m.  Service will be held in the chapel the following day at 11 a.m.  Interment to take place at Highland Park Cemetery.