During the early morning of August 27, 2020, Terasa Jane Gizelle (Tourangeau) Fraser died in
her sleep of natural cause at her home in Brooklin, Ontario. Born the eldest child on March 4,
1939 in Ottawa to Maria Alberta and Edward Robert Tourangeau, “Tess” leaves behind eight
surviving siblings of fifteen children. Life partner to William Douglas Fraser (deceased, 1994),
she will be remembered as loving mother to Lisa Anne Fraser, William Boyd Fraser (Jane Marie)
McAvoy, and Robert James Fraser. Mere Mère was an affectionate French Canadian term of
endearment to grandchildren Elizabeth Mary Fraser, William James Fraser, Leo John Paul Fraser
and Reta Jane Marie Fraser. Terasa has left behind many nieces and nephews and their children
in turn. As the eldest, she kept alive the family’s ancestral Métis heritage through the stories
and philosophy given to her from her Mere Mère. Terasa was a poet, avid letter writer and fine
artist who always included singing in French and English in her classroom. She loved to sing.

A caring person of considerable talent in the field of teaching, Terasa’s career began with her
care and guidance of sisters and brothers that self-determinately transformed into a life long
journey upon graduating from the Ottawa Teacher’s College in 1957. She left full time teaching
with the Durham Catholic District School Board in 1996. Terasa was certified in good standing
and periodically taught, only officially retiring, in 2008. Her career as a classroom teacher
included the role of acting Principal at the initial opening of St. Leo Catholic School in Brooklin
and worked for many years as primary support with students with special needs. Elected to the
OECTA Durham Unit executive and recipient of the unit’s President Award in 1986, Terasa’s
most treasured professional achievement was having former students take the time to stop and
remind her of their fond classroom memories. Her passionate and innovative teaching style
could be described as ahead of its time; filled with fun and active holistic methods. She often
expressed a child based approach to learning as evident by the claim to have achieved three
university degrees named Lisa, Billy and Bobby. Always supportive, Terasa had an unending
belief in the potential of her children and grandchildren, and future generations’ ability to make
a better world.

Terasa selflessly supported family and extended family struck with cancer or life threatening
health emergencies during retirement. As someone who taught through example she helped
organize the first Brownie pack in Brooklin, Brooklin Kinettes and could be found knocking on
doors in Brooklin seeking donations for the MS Society of Canada, Kidney Foundation, Heart &
Stroke Foundation and Denise House. Her compassion for the marginalized made fundraising
for the St. Francis leprosy organization especially close to her heart. She demonstrated to all
who knew and loved her the example of unconditional service to those in most need. Her death
on the feast day of Saint Monica shares the Passion at the foot of the cross as witness to
suffering and hope in the resurrection. Terasa will be buried at St. Mark’s Catholic Cemetery in
Prescott, Ontario.

An opportunity to share a memorial gathering to honour Terasa’s life will be held at a later date
in Brooklin, tentatively planned for March 4, 2021, contingent upon Covid-19 public health and
safety. News publications and social media will announce the invitation in the new year.