Alice Marie (Bourgault) Desjarlais, 90, died suddenly in her home in Jay, Vermont on February 21st, 2016. She was born on March 15th, 1925 in Ste-Edwidge, Quebec, the eldest of ten children to Edouard and Cecile (Beaulieu) Bourgault. She had a very happy childhood growing up in Coaticook, Quebec. 

On August 31st, 1946 she married Germain Desjarlais. After their first child was born, they purchased a farm in Jay, VT, and she would later give birth to six more children. She loved her family and was a devout catholic.  

Sadly, she became a widow on January 10th, 2001 when her beloved husband of 54 years died. 

For many years she was the matriarch of not only her birth family but also her husband’s family as the only remaining person of that generation.   She felt spoiled as not one day passed that she did not have at least one member of her family with her at all times. Although her life was difficult at times, she often stated that she wouldn’t change anything about her life and that she would happily do it all over again. She will be remembered as a sweet, vibrant women with a great sense of humor and her devotion to her family. 

Alice leaves behind her seven children and their spouses: Germaine O’Kane (Kevin), Thiells, NY; Lucie Bay (Peter), Colchester, VT; Leo (Lucie Gasse), Montreal, Quebec; Andre, Bridgewater, MA; Michael (Joni), Bridgewater, MA; Daniel (Carol-Ann), Bridgewater, MA; Denis (Michael McCann), Cape Town, South Africa. 

Her eleven grandchildren: Michael Bay (Hadley), Danielle Kane (Michael), Michael O’Kane (Margaret), Caroline Desjarlais (Etienne Gosselin), Marc Desjarlais, Christine Desjarlais (Matthieu Corbo), Guillaume Gagnon; Lauren Norton (Ryan), Cara, Nicole and Bianca Desjarlais. Her seven great grandchildren: (Caroline, Grant, Meredith, and Mitchell Bay, Nicola and Alice Corbo, Laidyn Norton). They were all dear to her and she loved when they visited from London, New York, Boston area, Ottawa and Montreal. She was looking forward to the birth of two more great grandchildren in the near future. 

Alice also leaves behind one brother, Andre Bourgault (Veronique) of Coaticook, Quebec, and two sisters: Rejeanne Bourgault and Francine Bourgault, both of Sherbrooke, Quebec. 

She was also particularly close to her nephew Richard Corbeil of Sherbrooke, Quebec and her cousin Monique Morway of Eden, VT.   Her life was also enriched by numerous nephews and nieces, whom called and visited often. 

She was predeceased by her parents and her six siblings: Claire, Maurice, Jean-Marc, Therese, Denis, Louis-Raymond. 

Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Mississquoi Valley Ambulance Service, 1375 Cross Road, Jay, VT 05859, or to the Orleans-Essex V.N.A. and Hospice, Inc, 46 Lakemont Road, Newport, VT 05855.