Thursday, July 10, 2008

Biography: Marie Landry-Léger

This biography is drawn from the book Silhouettes acadiennes - biographies de femmes, the work of authors Teresa Lemieux and Gemma Caron, published in 1981 by the Federation des Dames d'Acadie.

Marie Landry Léger

To have rescued many families bereaved by the death of loved ones, Mrs. Marie Landry Léger will present the Creator a magnificent bouquet of good deeds picked throughout her life.

Marie was born on February 20, 1892 in the parish of Lourdes in Memramcook-east. Her mother was Marguerite Vienneau of the same parish and her father, François Landry, related to the illustrious Pierre Amand Landry, the first Acadian judge. As a child, she spent a happy childhood in her family of ten children, then she attended school and convent in her village.

At the end of her adolescence, Marie met Édouard S. Léger, whom she joined for life. Édouard worked for his father, who was the funeral director in the region. The young couple moved to Memramcook-west, where Marie became an assistant in the family business. Mr. Léger, who was taskedb with making the last tributes to the deceased, led the beautiful horse drawn hearse until the advent of the automobile. The couple therefore decided to open a funeral home in the town.

In 1939, Mr. Leger got into politics and became Liberal MLA for Westmorland County in the provincial legislature. He was re-elected for a few mandates and held the county seat until 1952. During this period, Ms. Léger assumed full responsibility and stewardship of the funeral home; meetings with professional embalmers enable interesting exchanges. At that time, she received from a colleague in Amherst NS, a book on modern embalming techniques; later, she completed her diploma in this field in Saint John, NB, and graduated with the highest grade in her class, thus becoming one of very few women embalmers in Canada. Marie returned to her parish to work with her newly aquired skills. She always showed great generosity and discretion during the many years that she was a professional embalmer. The poor received the same care as the rich. She also took advantage of her free time to make clothing that she would discreetly offer to the neediest families. She would also cover and garnish wooden coffins with velvet and satin, to make them more suitable. Very often witness to the dismay of a husband before the death of his wife, or parents suffering the loss of their beloved child, Ms. Leger showed humanity by offering comforting words or benevolent gestures that inspired courage.

Despite her many responsibilities, Ms. Léger was the wife of a distinguished MLA, which she accompanied in various political activities. Wherever she went, she was respected and admired. Organist at her parish for several years, she often contributed her talents as a musician and singer. Besides music, this lady also had a penchant for manual work and was an excellent seamstress. One thing that must be noted, Ms. Léger blazed paths for the evolution of women, first by the trade that she practiced and also for being one of the first women to drive an automobile in the community. Not having had the opportunity to experience the joys of motherhood, Marie offered great generosity to her nephews and nieces, and prodigal tenderness to children as well as assistance and hospitality to beggars.

The death of her husband, which occurred on January 1st, 1971, disrupted her life at a time when old age becomes an increasingly heavy burden. She decided to dispose of her property and go and live with other people in a foster home in Moncton. Ms. Leger, the population of Memramcook-west and the families that you comforted, pay tribute to you and may you live the remaining years of your life in peace and serenity among your friends of the Villa du Repos.

Note: Ms. Landry Leger died in 1991.