THE ASSELIN FAMILY, DONORS OF THE MONTH

Marcel André Asselin was a family man who raised seven children to be grateful and appreciate everything they had. Now his children, Jeannine, René, Louise, Pierrette, Robert, Yvonne and Charles, have decided to honour their father’s memory by making a donation to the Actionmarguerite Foundation. "My father was always generous, especially to the Catholic church," says René Asselin. "It was in his nature to make donations. He liked to pay his own way and was generous to everyone who helped him." Pleased with their father’s positive experience at Actionmarguerite, Marcel Asselin’s children were keen to make a donation. "After our father’s death on September 22, 2016, we had a family meeting," recalls Jeannine Asselin-Eisner. "We were all very happy with the care he received here. We found all the staff to be really accessible. If we had any concerns, we felt comfortable making a call or dropping by. The nurses were all very kind." Marcel Asselin came to Actionmarguerite in May 2012, after suffering a stroke. "As a result of the stroke, he lost a great deal of awareness, mobility and memory. We couldn't give him the level of care he needed," says René Asselin. Louise Robertson adds, "Actionmarguerite St. Vital (Foyer Valade) was our first choice. The other options were unacceptable." Born into a Francophone family, the French language was always very important to Marcel Asselin. "It was his mother tongue. That was one of our main reasons for choosing this residence, along with the chapel," says René Asselin. Marcel Asselin’s children remember their father's time at Actionmarguerite. "When he arrived, his awareness was diminished but not completely gone," says Jeannine Asselin-Eisner. René Asselin adds, "He was quite particular. If he didn't like something, he let people know. He never complained at the residence." Jeannine Asselin-Eisner goes on: "He was a proud man, he liked to be well groomed and well dressed. They always took care of him here." He always said, "I let them look after me," says Louise Robinson. A 'bon vivant', Marcel Asselin loved teasing the nurses and enjoyed discussions with other residents. "We had an aunt and an uncle here. Our mother’s last surviving sister was two doors down from him," says Louise Robertson. For Marcel Asselin's children, the residence team went above and beyond their expectations. "He had a positive experience and so did we. We couldn’t have asked for a better way for him to spend his last days. The nurses and aides were proactive and anticipated our needs," says Jeannine Asselin-Eisner. "They took care of the entire family. At the end, they all came by to say goodbye to him," adds Louise Robertson. Pierrette McTavish and her sister Jeannine Asselin-Eisner expect to remain involved with the organization. "I'd like to continue to make donations. Who knows? One day I might be a resident here," says Pierrette McTavish. "And I plan to do some volunteer work," says Jeannine Asselin-Eisner.