Obituary of Gladys Grace Marie Griffiths

Gladys (Legacy) (Morin) GRIFFITHS: Like rosary beads gliding softly through fingers, Gladys passed peacefully June 7, 2024 earning her the eternal reward of life in peace with Christ. A child of the Great Depression, her bounteous earthly pilgrimage of 93 years has come to fruition. Born Clarisse Grace Legacy, September 29, 1930. Gladys was preceded in death by spouses Aldéi Morin (1975), James Griffiths (2003), parents Joseph Legacé and May Boucher, sisters Mary Rose Lagasy, Marie Jenne, Pauline Pineault and brother Vincent Legassey who died at the age of 19 in Falaise, France during WWII in one of the bloodiest and ferocious battles in the campaign of Normandy, closing the Falaise Gap. Indeed, the saddest day of her life was when she lost her precious daughter Lorraine Griffiths (2016).

Mourning her departure is daughter Lucille (Paul) Coleman, son-in-law Robert Griffiths, Mémère to four grandchildren: Ryan Griffiths, Renée (Steve) Huerta, Michael Coleman (Andréa), Michelle Popp (Daniel); and four greatgrandchildren: Robert, Linda, Abigail, Salem, Gladys’ younger brother Elmer Legasy in Timmins, ON and grandson-in-law Frank Popp.

In her life’s journey, Gladys gave abundantly and expected nothing in return. She always put others first and to the very end, her orbit was her family. She embodied a concrete reverence for her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. To Gladys’ daughters, she was their moral compass, their north, south, east, and west. Her friendships in life withstood the test of time and endured to the end.

At the young age of 16, Gladys left her birth town of Timmins, ON settling in St. Catharines where she immediately began working in the automotive industry. It was there that she met her first husband Aldéï Morin. She retired from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario in 1995. Gladys was a wonderful cook who loved to prepare delicious meals for her family. Oftentimes making her scrumptious home-made pizza which she would deliver to anyone and everyone including the fellows at the gas station who fueled-up her car. When it came to tending to her perennial flower beds, mom was liquid sunshine. A true labour-of-love, the flower gardens garnered many favourable compliments from passers-by. Her signature and favourite flower was the vibrant yellow cup-of-gold, the California Poppy. She would gladly pass these seeds along to anyone who wanted them. Her bird feeders were always kept full and her strategically placed birdbaths were routinely scrubbed and replenished with clean, fresh water.

Fiercely proud of her French-Canadian heritage, her direct ancestors, André Mignier dit Lagacé, a soldier in the Carignan-Salières Regiment and Marin Boucher immigrated to Acadie (now Canada) in 1665 and 1641 respectively. Gladys is also a proven descendant of Jacquette Michel, a Filles du Roi (King’s Daughter).

Goodnight sweet princess. Bonne nuit.

An upcoming funeral mass will be held at St. Ann Church in Niagara Falls with Rite of Committal at Victoria Lawn Cemetery in St. Catharines.

Anyone wishing to honour Gladys’ memory may do so by performing an act of kindness to an animal or person or simply tell the ones you love that you love them- tell them now!

I HAVE REDEEMED YOU; I HAVE CALLED YOU BY YOUR NAME; YOU ARE MINE. Isaiah 43:1