Louie Nolet, now a resident of Hanmer, grew up in Kapuskasing with his parents and five other brothers and sisters. His parents still live there. His oldest brother, Normand, moved to Gatineau, Quebec, where he began a career as a computer programmer. Normand and his wife, Johane, shown in the photo, raised a family of 13 children. Today, they range in age from 2 ½ to 21. 

The oldest girl is currently in her final year of University and hopes to continue her education. The family grew so large that they had to purchase a four-plex and convert three of the units into one. Johane’s parents are living in the other unit.

About two years ago, Normand heard words spoken by his doctor that he had hoped he would never hear. His doctor told him that he had cancer and had less than five years to live. This winter, the dreaded disease took Normand’s life, leaving Johane and 13 children, all still living at home, facing a bleak future.

“Normand had so much faith,” recalls Louie. “He always helped others and made so many sacrifices in his life for his children and people in need. We would all visit him in Gatineau at least once a year. My wife and children and I would have such a good time. This was Normand’s vacation since he could never afford to take all of his children on vacations together. We all looked forward to those visits.”

When Louie made the trip to Gatineau to visit Normand during his final days, Louie and his family stayed with a lady from the community who herself had lost a son in the army due to unknown causes. After losing her son, she formed “Les Amis de Janathan”, a Charity Foundation whose mission was to help needy families in Ontario and Quebec. She was so moved by the plight of the Nolet’s, that she put her Foundation to work to help raise money to help them purchase the necessities of life and be able to remain together as a family. For, while Normand provided the best he could for his family, he never expected to be taken from them at the young age of 47. With so very little money left over at the end of each month, Normand could not afford adequate life insurance and thus there is insufficient money in the estate to sustain the family.

“The community of Gatineau has been truly amazing,” commented Louie. “They have donated money and supplies to help out, but there is so much more needed. Johane is so afraid that they might have to sell the house to survive and then there is a chance that the family may have to be split up. That would devastate her. To make matters worse, she has just found out that her father is dying from cancer and doesn’t have long to live either.”

Cancer is a terrible disease. It strikes down the healthiest of people when they least expect it. If any of our readers wish to help out Normand’s family with a donation, Louie would be very appreciative. “I know it is a lot to ask, but I also know that the people of Valley East are generous and care about helping those in need. I don’t know how Johane is going to survive, but I do know that there are people who care enough about her to give her support.”