Violet Bertha Trottier

Our mom, Violet Trottier, was born in Onion Lake, the eldest of five, to Joe E. Fox and Mary Cecile Fox (nee: Chokan). After attending St. Anthony's residential school, she met and married  Lawrence Trottier in 1949.  Together they raised a family until his passing in 1965.  Although it was not easy to raise a family alone, she did her best with the help of her children's grandparents.  Times were hard in those days, yet with preserverence and hard work her family survived.  Violet had sewing skills which helped as she made clothes by hand until she acquired a single tredle sewing machine.  Before dad's passing, she had started doing bead work for his powwow regalia and she continued to bead for her children who were getting into powwow dancing.  She would be seen hunched over working on the next pair of beaded moccasins or mukluks, buckle or bag. Traveling to powwows was a highlight for Violet and she met many people who eventually became her adopted family.  Over the years, she became 'Mom' to many people, from the locals to ones from the states. One of her children's favorite memories was coming home from school on a cold winter day to a house smelling of fresh baked buns and cinnamon rolls. She cooked for her family at home and at any camping site they made.. always a home cooked meal. Violet loved family events especially when there would be lively games of card bingo. She was known to be more on the quiet side, but her presence was always felt with her soft laugh and smile, little ones always brought so much joy to her.  When covid prevented family and friend get togethers, she stayed in touch by phone which was her lifeline to her family.  She would do her rounds making calls to her daughters and her long time buddies and relatives.  These calls will be dearly missed.  Her fine memory was spot on for birthdays, always making sure to get a card to whoever was having a birthday or wedding anniversary.  In the past few years, she slowed down on sewing and beading and moccasin making, and spent her days working on her homework of word search, listening to CFCW, and looking out her window of her apartment at the elder's lodge watching people coming and going.  The loss of her sisters was a sad time as it left her the last of her generation, but she still made the effort to keep herself in good health and independent, as this was always important to her.  It brings comfort to her family that mom was someone who was special and loved dearly by so many.  Her legacy of kindness, humbleness, caring and love for one another is what she leaves to her children and generations to follow..a great gift and blessing. 
     She is predeceased by:  her husband, Lawrence Trottier (1965); her parents, Joe E. Fox and Mary Cecile Fox; her siblings, Ernest,Hector, Olivine and Victoria; her children, three infant sons, and Eddy (2000); her grandchildren,  Maria, Vera Lynn, Isabelle Dion, and Cindy Harper; her great-grandchildren, Charmaine Watchmaker and infant twins; her parents-in-law, Edward and Marie Trottier(nee;Cardinal); her sisters-in-law, Lavina Moosewah, Delphine Amahoose, Nancy (Moise) Trottier, Rachel Gladue and Christina Paul; her brothers-in-law, Celeste, Thomas, Peter and Victor; and her son-in-law, Elwood Harper.
     Violet is survived by:  her children, Florence (Roland) Dion, Vivian (Bruce) Whitstone, Dorene (Percy) Moosepayo, Marilyn Harper, Lyle Trottier, Lawrence (Nadine)Trottier, Laura Trottier, Jorge Trottier, Meline (Percy) Trottier and Vernon Trottier; her special sisters-in-law,  Justine Trottier, Evelyn (Philip) Cardinal and Susan (Joe) Quinney; her 45 grandchildren, 102 great-grandchildren, and 45 great-great grandchildren; her niece, Victoria (Boyd) Grunge; her adopted daughters, Rita (Tallas) Cantsee, Kimberly Tootoosis, amd Irene Onepennee-Paskimin; her adopted sons, Irvin Waskewitch, Larry (Bobbi) White and Emile (Edna) Blyan.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Violet Bertha Trottier, please visit our floral store.