On April 3, members of the Fort Coulonge and Mansfield community gathered to honour the memory of Nathalie Sylvia Soucie, a well-known community pillar, who passed away suddenly on March 25 at the age of 52.

Due to public health concerns a different kind of event was needed to mark her passing. A procession of vehicles, 89 in total, made their way from . . .

the town’s arena down towards 5 rue Proudfoot and past the Soucie residence where her parents, Sylvia and Hector Jr., as well as her husband, Tom Sullivan, sat with family and friends.

Sullivan said that Nathalie was a community-minded person who loved to help others.

“Everyone that would have come close to Nathalie, got to know Nathalie for 15 minutes would know that she would leave a mark on you,” he said. “She’s inspired so many people that she’s come in contact with.”

“She’ll be greatly missed not only by our family and myself, but … we lost a pillar of the community,” he continued. “I think this is a good way to allow some of the immediate community to drive by to pay respects and at least it gives them some sort of closure. Closure is a very important part of healing after you lose someone.”

Hector Jr. said that he was very close with his daughter and remembered her as a great help to family members and the town at large.

“Nathalie was very open-minded, she was very honest,” he said. “She was very active in the community … she was always wanting to help the people around her.”

“She liked everybody, she always wanted to help,” added Sylvia. “Her and Tom, they were a perfect couple, they got along real well.”

The vehicles were decked out with white ribbons in Nathalie’s honour, many of which were later placed in the branches of a tree outside École secondaire Sieur de Coulonge, where she worked.

Editor’s note: A more detailed article on Nathalie’s life and achievements will appear in a future edition of THE EQUITY.

A total of 89 vehicles, escorted by police, took part in the procession which travelled past the Soucie residence.

Caleb Nickerson, THE EQUITY A tribute was held on Saturday in honour of a Fort Coulonge woman, Nathalie Sylvia Soucie, who passed away suddenly on March 25 at the age of 52. A total of 89 vehicles made their way from the arena down rue Proudfoot and past the Soucie residence to pay their respects to a woman who was well known in the area for her community involvement. Many of the vehicles were decked out with white ribbons, which later adorned a tree outside Ecole secondaire Sieur de Coulonge, where Soucie worked. See page three for more.

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