“She was the love of my life. My muse. My north star….” So began Marc L’Heureux’s reflection on Geneviève Laverdure, his wife and best friend for almost four decades. A mother, a grandmother, a sister, an aunt. Fit, vivacious, creative and generous. She lived life fearlessly – until the moment she took her last breath.

A fight for life

Marc is now the préfet of the MRC des Laurentides and mayor of Brébeuf. In 2009, however, he was a successful contractor pursuing a passion he loved. With dozens of massive projects under his belt, he had just been awarded the contract to build the new city hall in Mont- Tremblant. Life was good. Until it wasn’t.

When cancer strikes, it almost always comes as a surprise. As a carrier of the BRCA gene, the most common cause of hereditary breast cancer, Geneviève expected to receive the diagnosis eventually. Nonetheless, she was stunned when doctors confirmed her worst fears.

Breast cancer. A mastectomy. Endless radiation treatment. Years of chemotherapy. Experimental drug protocols. Repeated surgeries. It spread to her lymph nodes, then into her blood. The cancer metastasized and began eating through bone.

Other than Marc, not many saw her pain. Geneviève was a very private person and kept her illness pretty much to herself. It was not something she discussed, complained about, nor dwelt upon. She was determined that it would not define her.

Community comfort and care

A decade somehow passed. Marc sold his thriving business to his sons. His full-time job came to be as caregiver to Geneviève. Marc had the financial means to make her life as comfortable as possible, but no one is equipped to handle the death of a loved one on their own.

And that is when Palliacco entered their lives. The non-profit organization helps maintain the quality of life of individuals with terminal illness, and their loved ones, by providing in-home support. When all treatments had finally failed. When there was nothing to be done but prepare for death – a caring and attentive team of volunteers from Palliacco helped Geneviève find serenity and peace.

Never one to confide or show vulnerability, Geneviève was able to open up to the amazing group of volunteers. For over six months, they listened, they counselled, they helped her prepare to say goodbye. When it became almost too much for Marc and his family to bear, these selfless volunteers carried the load.

When the end arrived, Geneviève was ready. With a tight squeeze of Marc’s hand, a slight smile, and a whispered, “I know how much you love me,” she was gone.

A compassionate community

Marc often repeats Coretta Scott King’s mantra: “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” Marc adds: “This is where Palliacco leads by example.” “Taking care of each other. That is where you see the real value of a community,” Marc relates.

As we begin a new year, Marc has issued a challenge. “I have asked every mayor in our region to join me in participating in the Trek Under the Stars to raise funds for Palliacco,” says Marc. “It takes each of us to make a difference for all of us.” Beginning on January 8, please walk, ski, or snowshoe at Domaine Saint-Bernard in Mont-Tremblant; at Camping et centre de plein air in Sainte-Agathe-des- Monts; or at the Chalet Bellevue in Morin-Heights, to help raise funds for this important community initiative.

Open your heart. Open your wallet. Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.

Support Marc, or register your team at palliacco.org

More from this author by clicking on her photo below.