We announce with sadness the death of our mother, Ila McRae, in her 82nd year, on January 9, 2005. In recent years she gave up many interests and activities, but her life was characterized by her boundless energy and by her commitment to her family, her life long friends and her community.

She was born in Campbellton to Stanley Firlotte and Violet Blaikie. Just out of high school herself, she taught in a one room school house in Broadlands, Quebec before going into nurses training at the Montreal General Hospital. She graduated in 1948 and promptly married Bill who had courted her throughout WW II and her training. Together for the next 47 years, they raised five children, almost as many poodles and hundreds of bushels of vegetables in the garden at their beloved Pt La Nim cottage.

Ila and Bill made a mark on their community of Campbellton. When Bill became mayor for the first of three terms in 1971, Ila became a gracious hostess to city counselors, premiers, and lieutenant governors often charming visiting dignitaries with gifts of home grown tomatoes and home made preserves. She was part of the group that brought Theatre New Brunswick to Campbellton in the 1970s working tirelessly to sell subscriptions and build an audience. A great supporter of local artists, she was most proud of her role in the creation of the Restigouche Gallery. An avid reader, she wrote a book review column for the Centennial Library for several years. For many more years she delivered Meals on Wheels, worked with the United Church Women, volunteered at blood donor clinics and organized the art gallery garage sales. Both Ila and Bill were honored to be listed among 100 influential Campbelltonians during the centenary of the city.

She fed the hitchhikers Bill brought home each summer. She looked forward each year to a full table at Christmas. She was a tireless gardener who generously shared the plants she started in her greenhouse each spring and the harvest her gardens produced each fall. Her green thumb and Bill's determination to plant yet another row made her grown children protest at the sheer volume of beans to be picked. Her years of genealogy work left her family richer in ancestors as she charted generations of Blaikies, Firlottes, Downs and McRaes. She was a generous supporter of many causes. She was a loyal friend. She will be missed by her Montreal General pals, who she saw regularly, by the friends she and Bill made in over 20 years of visiting Mexico, by the Campbellton friends she shared the comings and goings of life with.

She was predeceased by her husband William T (Bill) McRae and by her sister Vera Reith. She leaves her children Rick, Lissa, Cristie, Kilby and Billee, her daughter-in-law Elaine Thompson, sons-in-law Bill Robson, Dwight Dionne and Greg Leger; her grandchildren Jesse and Justin McRae, Julia and Christopher Dionne, Tom and Polly Leger, and Catherine and Mathieu Myre; her sisters Joyce St Jean (Ottawa), Beryl Mundle (Calgary), brothers Bob Firlotte and his wife Doris (Scarborough, Ont.), Cameron Firlotte and his wife Noni (Abbotsford, BC); her step mother, Margaret Firlotte (Campbellton); her sisters-in-law Mary Jane McRae (Campbellton), Joan McRae (Ottawa) and brother and sister-in-law Jack and Helen McRae (Toronto); her cousins Marion Dunville and Doug Firlotte and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Friday, January 13 at the First United Church in Campbellton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any children's charity, the United Church or the Parkinson's Foundation of Canada.

Ronald James Legacy

The death of Ronald James Legacy of McLeods, N.B., occurred at the Campbellton Regional Hospital on January 7, 2006, at the age of 59.

Born in Campbellton, N.B., on December 2, 1946, he was the son of the late Celestin Legacy and the late Margaret Johnson. Ronald worked as a laborer in the construction industry.

Surviving is his wife Dianne Arseneault of McLeods, N.B., daughters Krystal at home and Linda (Dale) of Glen Levit, N.B., sons Raymond of Bathurst, N.B. and Richard (Linda) of Campbellton. Also surviving are sisters Frances and Shirley of Ontario, brothers William (Billy), Randolph, and Robert all of Calgary, Alberta, granddaughters, Tracey, Ann, Selena, Eden, Erika, great granddaughter Chloe, and nephews Lee and Shawn.

Predeceasing him were his parents Celestin and Margaret, and sister Betty Cunnings.

Funeral arrangements were placed in the care of Maher's Funeral Home, Campbellton.

Wilfrid "Realy" Pitre

The death of Wilfrid "Realy" Pitre of 237 Des Meandres Road, Pointe a la Garde, PQ, occurred at the Campbellton Regional Hospital on January 5, 2006, at the age of 67.

Born in Pointe a la Garde, PQ on October 26, 1938, he was the son of the late Raymond Pitre and the late Vera Keays.

Surviving him is his ex-wife Roland Godbout of Listuguj, PQ, his daughter Linda Pitre of Matapedia, PQ, his sisters Mary of Manitoba, Marguerite of Montreal, and Lisa of Hope, PQ. Also surviving is his grandson Matthew McNaughton of Matapedia, as well as brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Predeceasing him were his parents Raymond and Vera, his brother Gerald and his partner Ghislaine Poitras. The funeral was held from Notre Dame de la Garde Church in Pointe a la Garde, PQ, on January 12, 2006, officiated by Father Leblanc, with interment in the parish cemetery in the spring. Pallbearers were the Knights of Columbus of Pointe a la Garde. Funeral arrangements were placed in the care of Maher's Funeral Home, Campbellton.