Bertha Eva (Cote) Ladieu

Bertha Eva (Cote) Ladieu was born in Saskatchewan, Canada; in the hamlet of Delmas on August 1, 1922, the second daughter of Edouard and Albina (Coutu) Cote. Bertha passed away in hospice on July 19, 2021 surrounded by family and in the home of her loving daughter. Born in a log cabin in what is now a remote field of Canadian wildflowers; Bertha lived a full childhood as the second of ten siblings. When she was three months old, the family moved to Manchester, NH where she not only met her husband and started a family, but also started a career. Bertha worked her way up to manager of the Miss Lynch's Shops throughout NH and eventually found herself traveling back and forth to New York as a buyer for McQuade's Clothing Stores. Ultimately she left her successful career for her preference to be at home with her carpenter husband and three children, "Because money was never important to me." Bertha is pre-deceased by her one true love and husband, Francois (Frank) Isadore Ladieu, Jr. September 15, 1989, of whom she would say, "I just loved his face. No man has ever had such a beautiful face." She is also predeceased by her sisters Orise and Theresa and her brothers Robert, Henri, Leon, Marcel and Laurier; and her much loved son-in-law, Bob Lucci. When Bertha and Frank retired to Brooksville, FL Bertha immediately went back to school to get her GED; because she had always wanted to finish school. She involved herself in church activities becoming a Sacristan and Eucharistic Minister at Saint Frances Cabrini Church. She continued these services when she returned to Manchester, NH, after the death of her husband, as a parishioner at Saint Raphael Parish until her own health declined. Bertha maintained her independence through her 97th year, giving up her small apartment, which she loved, only after a fall and a broken hip made her independence impossible. Bertha lived and enjoyed a quiet, industrious, family-oriented life. She was an avid card player, especially with her son and daughter-in-law Dan and Ann and their extended family; she challenged her niece Joyce Rand to cribbage; enjoyed travel, sewing, painting, drawing, knitting, crochet, yoga (in the 1980's) and was adept at all hand-crafts and cooking. She was beautiful, loved to wear white to match her hair, and had an outstanding eye and delight for gold shoes. She was earnest in her commitment to love and idealistic enough to allow nay-sayers to think her naive. She loved everybody, respected differences and held the family sacred; believing in her heart that, "We are all family ultimately. Period." Bertha is survived by her son Robert E. Ladieu, and his partner David Hamilton; daughter Elaine A. (Ladieu) Lucci; son Daniel C. Ladieu and his wife Ann (Treadway) Ladieu. Her grandchildren: Gregory Lucci; Derek Lucci, and his wife Jennifer Gilkie; Danielle (Ladieu) Sansoucie, and her husband Shane Sansoucie; Jeffrey Ladieu and his wife Kim (Bartis) Ladieu; and Michael Ladieu. Also by her great grandchildren: Seth, Cole, Owen and Nora Sansoucie; Max and Kaden Ladieu; and Anna Grace and Gaetano Gregory Lucci. Bertha is also survived by her brother Edouard Cote, Jr. and sister Francoise (Cote) Yamhure. Bertha's immediate family give special thanks to the Manchester VNA Hospice team; particularly to her nurse, Carmita, her LNA's Semsa and Shente, and her social worker, Kathy, all of whom handled logistics and information with compassionate patience and who cared for our eldest family member with dignity and mindful lovingkindness throughout her hospice. Calling hour will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2021 from 9:00 to 10:00 am at the Durning, Bykowski & Young Funeral Home, 285 Manchester St., (Corner of Beech Street) Manchester, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday morning at 10:30 am in St. Raphael's Church located at 103 Walker St., Manchester. The burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Manchester. Donations may be made in memory of Bertha E. Ladieu to Manchester VNA Hospice and/or Saint Raphael Parish Food Pantry