Violet Montpetit

Violet Montpetit

It is with profound sadness that the family of Violet (Vi) Montpetit announce her peaceful passing on October 13 2023 at the age of 83 years, surrounded by all her children.  She is predeceased by her loving husband Turner Montpetit of 61 years.  She is lovingly remembered by her three children: Colette (Dan), Melanie, Matthew (Jennifer), her Grandchildren; Thomas, Casey (Wyatt), Connor (Niki), Jacob, Ethan, Owen and her Great Grandchild, Wesley along with numerous siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Born in Toronto in 1940, and immediately moving to South River, Vi grew up on a farm just outside of town. She and her six sisters and two brothers grew up in a house filled with music, singing and dancing. While her first job was cooking in the kitchen of a logging camp at age 13, it was her love of children and teaching that led to her career as a teacher. She first taught in the Huntsville area, being one of the last teachers in the one-room school house in Stisted Township. Her teaching career lasted over 40 years in the North Bay, Timmins and Almaguin area. Vi loved meeting up with former students and hearing where their lives had taken them. Vi’s years of teaching experience held her in good stead as she continued to privately tutor many students.

Vi met, and charmed, Turner while waitressing in Huntsville and the two married in 1962. After a few years of living and teaching in North Bay and in Timmins, Vi and Turner settled with their children in Sundridge and quickly immersed themselves into the community.  Whilst continuing to supply teach, Vi helped Turner to start Almaguin Sports, took over the MTO licensing office and, later, started a pizza shop and bakery. Vi was Akela to many local Cub Scouts, completed two terms on Strong Council, was Chair of the Community Living Board and served on the Sundridge/Strong Library Board for many years, a commitment that she loved. 

Lovingly known by her family as Vi Pi, she had many passions that included singing and dancing in the Almaguin Choir Society for over 30 years, volunteering at countless community events and  baking and sharing her famous butter tarts and chocolate chip cookies. She was a reader and loved playing card games.  Her family enjoyed playing Scrabble and Quirkle with her despite knowing that they weren’t going to win. Traveling with Turner and her family was a passion for Vi.   Over the years, she travelled to Mexico, across Canada from BC to Newfoundland, various places in the United States and all over Ontario’s waterways in their boat. 

Family was very important to Vi, shown by the many family reunions she hosted at their home on Lake Bernard, as well as the many cross country journeys she made to visit her sisters and brothers, including a very recent trip to Vancouver Island.

Vi will be remembered by many for her ability to cook incredible meals over an open fire while camping in Algonquin Park and Northern Ontario, or to put on large feasts, whether it be on her dining table in Sundridge or from the wood stove at the Sugar Bush Bunkie in Huntsville. Her family will always remember enjoying a simple ‘pick lunch’ while traveling with Turnie on their boat.

Vi loved life and shared her joy in many ways. We will remember her joy at organizing large groups of children,  her love of owls , her tales to her grandchildren of growing up on a farm and her adventures with skunks under the outhouse. 

Family will receive friends on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Christ Church Port Sydney from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Followed by the Memorial Service at 2:00 p.m. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Opatovsky Funeral Home- Moore Chapel.  If desired, donations to  Scouts Canada, Sundridge Lions Medical Lending Library or Christ Church Anglican Port Sydney would be gratefully acknowledged as expressions of sympathy.