Jacqueline Rundle (nee Legros), 64, passed away January 26, 2017 peacefully in her home in Dryden, Ontario.
Jacqueline is survived by her husband, Gaylord; children, Daniel Rundle (Tekla) and Irene Dube (Mike); three grandchildren, Lincoln, Bronson and Ruby; siblings Judie Hindy (Bill), Terry Habinski (Richard), Duane Legros (Becky), and Mark Legros. She is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her brother Vaughn Legros, mother Bernice Legros and father Elphage Legros.
Jacqueline was born in Sioux Lookout on February 18, 1952. She was one of six children and grew up in Superior Junction, Alcona, and Sioux Lookout.
With an appetite for life, she wanted to travel. While holding a job at Lands and Forest (MNR), she met Gaylord through a misplaced telefax (think pre-Internet). They soon met and the two of them decided to travel to New Zealand. Their friendship blossomed into romance during their first year abroad. They spent four years in Auckland, where Jacqueline obtained her nursing diploma at Greenlane Hospital. They were married on January 10, 1973 and made their way back to Canada in 1975.
Jacqueline and Gaylord then settled in Alberta and had two children, Daniel and Irene, in High Prairie, AB. With a desire to be closer to family, they relocated back to Sioux Lookout and raised their children. She and her husband built their own home, a unique round house, in Alcona and finished the work in 1989. They eventually moved, in 2011, to reside in Dryden, Ontario.
Jacqueline worked throughout the years in various fields. She was always passionate about human rights, so in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, while working for the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, she was President of the union and integral in negotiating labour rights for town employees. With her passion and natural talent in helping others, she created her own business called Lodestar Training and spent many years working in mental health counselling and life skills training. She helped countless people and spent a lot of time travelling to Fort Severn, Muskrat Dam and other First Nations. For many years, these communities were like a second home where she had many close friends.
Jacqueline was not only passionate about helping others, but was a deeply spiritual person. While raised a Catholic, she spent many years exploring her spiritual side, including Buddhism and native spirituality. She spent many years walking the Red Road, was a sweat lodge keeper and was known by many as Turtle Woman. She never left her teachings behind when she returned to her Christian roots. She was a lay reader at the Roman Catholic Church and later a deacon at the Anglican Church. The foundation of her spiritual journey was rooted deeply in personal reflection and relationships, striving to connect with the Creator and the spirit that connects us all.
She found meditation in the quiet and so much joy in her evening drives with her husband and many road trips over the years. She was an animal and nature lover and delighted in the simple things in life, from watching a storm roll in to playing cards with friends. In the last year of her life, she was diagnosed with ALS but always remained positive. Jacquie was a kind, gentle, funny and intelligent woman who will be missed by many but will live on in our memories.
A Memorial Funeral Service will be held Saturday February 11th, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Sioux Lookout with Father Mike Mahoney officiating. Interment of ashes will be held at a later date.
If friends so desire donations can be made to Dryden Food Bank through the Stevens Funeral Homes PO Box 412, Dryden, ON P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be posted at www.stevensfuneralhomes.ca.