Vallillee, Catherine Florence (nee Lapointe) Catherine Florence Vallillee (nee Lapointe) passed away on August 26th at the Carleton Place Terrace. She was 96 years old. She was pre-deceased by her beloved husband Gerald Vallillee, great friend Walter Goodings, and siblings John, Bernard, Leonard, Wilfred and Theresa. She is mourned by her sister Frances Dagenais and her four children Jane Beall (Pat Wolfe), David (Laura- deceased), Wendy (Alan Eschke) and Derek. Grandchildren Bernardo Valero, Christopher Beall, Paul Vallillee, Nathan Vallillee and Janeva Wolfe will miss her as well as will her great grandchildren, Bernie Valero, Jr., Brian Valero, Julia Beall, Ainsley O'Loughlin, Taylum Vallillee, Logan Vallillee, Kaycee Vallillee, Daymon Vallillee, Christopher Vallillee and Natasha Fournier. Catherine grew up in Pembroke, Ontario in a Franco-Ontarian family, and spent several years of her childhood in a wheelchair with polio. After that she was always uneasy with animals as the horse pulling the milk wagon down Front Street in Pembroke sometimes attempted to rest his head on her shoulder and she was powerless to move away. Being immobile for her early childhood was also the origin of a lifelong fear of insects, especially flies that would land on her in her wheelchair. Later, Catherine attended a private high school in Montreal as there was no French school in Pembroke above grade 8. She vividly remembered arriving in Montreal on September 10th, 1939, the day war was declared. She wandered around in the general confusion and chaos of the train station and wasn't found by her school escort until after nightfall. After high school, she worked in a munitions factory in Brownsburg, Quebec where she met her future husband, Gerald. Once he was called up, she returned with daughter Jane to her family in Pembroke. After the war, there was plenty of travel. Gerald continued with his education, completing a PhD in Classics at the University of Chicago. As a professor, and later Dean, Catherine moved with her family to Lennoxville, Ottawa, Waterloo, and Sudbury. In her role as the Dean's wife, she enjoyed entertaining, including on one memorable occasion, welcoming the Secretary General of the United Nations, U Thant, to dinner. In 1979 Catherine went to Darwin, Australia with daughter Jane, grandson Christopher and young son Derek. Although she planned to stay only until Jane was settled, the lure of the tropics and an understanding husband allowed her to enjoy a complete year of Aussie hospitality. On her husband's retirement, Catherine and Gerald moved to Lanark to be near family. Her youngest daughter, Wendy, owned the Lanark Era for many years. Several years after her husband's death, Catherine met and enjoyed a close friendship with Walter Goodings until his death nine years ago. Four years ago, Catherine moved to the Carleton Place Terrace where she lived happily until her death. She especially enjoyed her friends at her dinner table and was often seen smiling and laughing. She loved listening to CBC and reading. Just before she broke her ankle which precipitated her death, she was busy reading a biography of Rene Levesque. She will be greatly missed by friends, family and all who knew her. In remembrance of Catherine contributions to the Canadian Cancer Society Wheels of Hope would be appreciated. Arrangements are private for the family and are in the care of Blair & Son Funeral Home, Perth www.blairandson.com