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A Blessed Life: Madame Rita Coté of Midland (4 photos)

Rita Coté has left an indelible mark on the community through family, faith, a strong work ethic and volunteerism

Communities measure the achievements of their citizens and often recognize service.

It need not be public and visible; often it is those working tirelessly without recognition who meet the grade.

The cheerful Madame Rita Coté --Senior Volunteer of the Year for Midland, honours by Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, sings in two choirs and a renowned quilter-- meets this criteria.

Over forty years canvassing for the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society and the Salvation Army, and 16 years volunteering at the Mental Health Centre.

The Soup Kitchen, visiting, shopping for the boys at the Ridge and serving on the Auxiliary. In the church, much more work as Usher, the Catholic Women’s League and the Legion of  Mary. She still walks to church, but now takes a ride home.

Madame Coté is a Ste. Croix girl born, baptized, confirmed and married in that country church in Lafontaine.

We are not certain if it is the Laurin, Robitaille,  Desroches or Bonin genes, but the Cotés have ones that last. Rita’s mum and her brothers and sisters all lived into their nineties with aunt Emelda dying in the Manor at 102. Her mum said her seven brothers played violin and sang and all got married and had big families.

Rita Laurin and Bert Coté were married in 1942.

Bert had worked for CSL sailing, but then found work in the shipyards after moving to Midland. Rita had worked for Nap Beauchamp at the Brulé where she learned English. After the yards closed, Bert worked 19 years for the CPR and another twenty for the Catholic School Board.

With farm roots, hard work was something she knew and raising a family meant making ends meet.

Rita juggled jobs, family and volunteering like an expert, keeping them all going at once.

Moonlighting is a term well known to Rita as she managed many jobs, working for Dr. Grisé for 25, Jack and Jean Pettigrew at the  Maples on Yonge, the Dynasty and, from the birth of Nelson in ’45, Raymond  in ’50, even a stint at Pillsbury with the Doughboy.

A lifelong Liberal, Rita worked all the elections either as poll clerk or deputy returning officer if the party was in power. She was involved in federal, provincial and municipal politics for over forty years. Commitment is her byword.

Did I mention Rita had eleven children? Twenty-six grandchildren and thirty-six great grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren…at last count. It was purposeful as I wanted to save the best for last…one more on the way!

Here is her great gift to the community along with her volunteer work. Family, faith and loving your friends comes first for Madame.

Memorials are erected by those wanting to be remembered. We can learn from this that the treasure is human, not all the gold in the world leaves as great a gift as what this woman has left as her legacy….a large and happy family a grateful community and a blessed life. 

René Hackstetter January 15, 2021.