In Memoriam: Maureen Varette

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Maureen Varette, a treasured member of our Graduate Studies team for more than 20 years.

Please read obituary below from Maureen’s family:

We are heartbroken to announce Maureen’s death at Kingston General Hospital on June 4 from complications related to cancer. Born to Anne Cusack and Walter Varette in Ottawa, Ontario, Maureen was the easy middle child of a rambunctious gang of six children.

Maureen leaves her beloved son Shane and her treasured grandchildren Elijah, Rohan and Jasper. Anyone could feel the love and pride for these beautiful boys emanate from Maureen whenever they were in the room.

Maureen was a constant force in our family, who loved and was loved unconditionally by all generations. Sister to Sharon (Cam), Paula, Patti, Peter (deceased) and Greg (deceased); ‘Auntie Moe’ to Kevin, Kristopher (deceased), Virginia, Caitlin, John, Rachel, Bridget, Oliver and Adam, as well as to their children who treasured her warm and patient presence.

Over the past year, Maureen flourished in her new life at the Chartwell Conservatory Pond Retirement Residence in Kingston. Her caring interest in others led to many close friendships that she valued deeply. Our hearts go out to Billyann, Maria and all the wonderful staff at the Pond. Thank you for making Maureen’s life so happy and fulfilling.

Maureen graduated from Algonquin College in Ottawa, followed by a diverse career in administration. Her niche was the university environment, both at Queen’s University and for the rest of her career at Carleton University where she worked at Graduate Studies. Maureen loved helping ‘her students’ navigate through their graduate life from acceptance to dissertation to convocation. Although each spring and fall brought the next wave of organizational challenges, Maureen never ceased to love the ceremony and proud faces of parents and grads.

She was the ultimate dog lover. Her loyal companions over the years were Dune, her regal collie and Van, her rascally Jack Russell. Maureen was also an avid reader, consuming novels at an uncanny rate prior to her illness, sharing a passion for the same thriller authors as her brother-in-law, Cam. She had a wicked sense of humour and an insatiable will to live, forging through health challenges until she couldn’t. We will miss her courage, strength and warm smile forever.

The family is deeply grateful to the Community Palliative Care Team, especially Melissa Touw (NP), the Cancer Centre of Eastern Ontario, nursing staff on Connell 3, Doctors Babette Stern and Marek Gruca, and Ontario Health at Home.

In Maureen’s memory, donations can be made to the Department of Palliative Care Medicine at KHSC:  Make a Gift in Memory | University Hospitals Kingston Foundation

A private gathering to celebrate Maureen’s life will be held at a later date. Messages can be posted here.