Slain grandmother and family playwright remembered for the joy she brought others
Stoney Creek woman faces first-degree murder charge in death of Elaine Ladouceur of Grimsby
For years, summertime for Elaine Ladouceur meant the opening of “Camp Nanapapa,” a weeklong visit by her four grandchildren at the Magnetawan area cottage she owned with her husband, Gerry.
There she would write a short play for the children, known as “the fab four,” and would rehearse with them until a performance for their parents at the end of the week.
But the summer of 2022 was the last season for the family theatre. On Feb. 26, while on her way home from a grandchild’s hockey game, the 82-year-old Grimsby woman was killed. Niagara Regional Police say her car was rammed from behind by another vehicle and thrown into a ditch near the intersection of Ridge Road West near Mountain Road in Grimsby.
Her 79-year-old husband, also in the vehicle, was injured and is recovering in a Hamilton hospital. The couple had been married for 55 years.
Sonya Kaur Sekhon, a 44-year-old woman from Stoney Creek, faces a first-degree murder charge in connection to Ladouceur’s death, as well as an attempted murder charge.
In a statement to The Spectator, Ladouceur’s family described her as a devoted grandmother who kept in constant contact with the children by text messages and FaceTime.
“She and Gerry would often attend activities the kids were part of, such as hockey games, dance shows, or horse shows,” said the statement, released by a family spokesperson. “She took joy in life and gave much joy to others.”
Ladouceur, known to friends and family as Lolly, toured Europe and the United States for years with her husband, friends and family until arthritis made those trip too difficult for her, her family says.
She is also survived by her son and her daughter. A celebration of Ladouceur’s life will be scheduled at a later date.
Sekhon remains in custody at the woman’s jail in Milton pending a bail hearing.
Dressed in a lime green prison T-shirt, Sekhon made a brief appearance in a St. Catharines video court on Wednesday. She will return to video court again on Friday morning.
Niagara Regional Police say Sekhon did not know the Ladouceurs and had no interaction with them prior to the fatal collision on Feb. 26.
In order to lay a first-degree murder charge, police have to evidence they believe demonstrates premeditation on the part of the accused person. However, an Niagara police spokesperson said detectives are not disclosing what that evidence is at this juncture, as the investigation is still ongoing and the case is before the courts.
The major crimes unit, which investigates homicides, is asking anyone with information about the Feb. 26 incident to come forward.