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One month after celebrating her 90th birthday with family and friends, our mother, wife, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend drew her final breath. Francine Michelle Picot (nee Bilodeau) leaves behind Eric, her husband of 67 years; her daughter: Suzanne (Robertson) of Lunenburg, N.S.; her sons: Michel (Linda) of Lunenburg, N.S., Pierre (Linda) of Victoria, B.C., Charles F./Carl (Maria) of Montreal/Spain and granddaughters: Gabrielle (Reid) and Madeleine (Nicky), all of Victoria, B.C. Francine also leaves her brother: Louis Bilodeau of Cocagne, N.B.; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister: Murielle in 2009.
Francine, daughter of Alonzo and Delina (Bourgeois) Bilodeau, grew up on Lovers Lane in Cocagne, N.B. She was determined to get a formal education which brought her to nursing school in Bathurst, where she met Eric. Francine was ahead of her time in the early 1960s by being a woman with a career and a family. She was made supervisor of her ward early in her career.
Francine shared her connection to Cocagne with her children by taking them to the family cottage every summer. Francine and Eric continued to spend their summers in Cocagne, and after retiring from Chaleur Regional Hospital, she and Eric returned to her roots permanently and settled in Shediac.
Francine was most at home on the beach, soaking up the sun. Whether traveling on the back of a motorcycle, with a travel trailer, on a cruise, or visiting her children in the Caribbean, Yukon, Montreal, Mexico, or B.C. She would always pack her bathing suit first to never miss an opportunity. She loved knitting, dancing, live music and playing cards with friends and family. Most evenings she enjoyed taking a drive, a favourite destination being the wharf at Pointe du Chêne.
She was well known for her sweet tooth, her love of chocolate, making fudge and desserts. At her 90th birthday, when offered a large piece of chocolate birthday cake, she at first protested but then picked up her fork and said to her granddaughters, “I think I’m up for the challenge.” A lesson for us all.
Visitation will be held at Passage (3754 Route 134, Shediac Bridge, NB E4R 1T3 – 506.532.1050), on Thursday, May 8, 2025 from 2pm until time of funeral service/ceremony at 4pm.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to a charity of your choice.
The family invites you to sign an online book of condolences at:
www.funerairepassagefuneral.ca
Arrangements under the professional care of
Passage Funeral Co-operative and Cremation Centre
Our deepest sympathies to Eric and family. We have fond memories of Francine living on Weldon Street.
Francine and Eric met at Hotel Dieu in Bathurst where Eric serviced the bedside radios and Francine was a nurse . I was nursing there also and Eric asked me to arrange a date and the rest is history
So sorry that I will never see her again
When I visited from the west coast we always made a point that all the Picot cousins ¹meeting for lunch
Last time was 2015 . My sympathies to cousin Eric and family
So sad to hear of Francine’s passing. She was a lovely person, wonderful personality, my sympathy to Cousin Eric and family members. Love., Jeannine
Cher Éric, Toutes mes sympathies pour le décès de Francine. Que le Seigneur lui accorde graces et repos. J’ai beaucoup aimé Francine pour sa franchise et son accueil. Je ferai dire une messe pour elle.
Cousine Stella Thérèse
Mes sincères condoléances à toute la famille.J’ai toujours de bons souvenirs de Francine, surtout nos longues conversations téléphoniques ..sans oublier notre anniversaire,en commun, du cinque mars.
The obit, with tales of sea, sun, sweet tooth and kindness says it well, but I would like to focus upon the legacy left by Francine (Eric too)
They should be proud of the brood of 4 kids, each in their own right, individual, balanced and interesting.Well done Francine.
I and Jocelyne counted you as a fast friend.
RIP.
Cher Eric et famille,
Nos plus profondes condoléances à vous tous. Francine était une femme extraordinaire et très aimante. Elle était pour moi comme une grande soeur. Je garderai toujours de bons souvenirs d’elle. Bon courage et Que Dieu Vous Bénisse. 🙏❤️
My condolences to Eric ,and their wounderful family,very sad to see her go ..
Dear Eric,
This evening I was thinking of Francine and the good times we had.. I decided to google her name and was very surprised to read she and passed on to her forever life. I am so sorry for your loss. She will be missed. We had a lot of parties and remember the Volleyball games, every Sunday night, at Bathurst College.
Francine and family will be remembered in my prayers.