A former Godmanchester resident, Josephine Boucher, will celebrate her 100th birthday on September 25 at the Centre d’hébergement du comté de Huntingdon (CHSLD).
Born in 1924, she worked in a factory for a few years before marrying Jean Taillefer at St-Joseph’s Catholic Church in Huntingdon in 1947. The couple soon moved to Taillefer’s family farm in Godmanchester, where Boucher welcomed the first of 12 children in 1948.
“She didn’t have time to work outside the home, that’s for sure,” says her daughter France Taillefer, who refers to her mother as a beautiful, caring, and patient woman. Boucher also benefits from good genes, as her parents also lived to be in their 90s. “We were lucky to have known them for a long time, and mom is still doing fine,” says Taillefer.
When asked whether Boucher has imparted any of the secrets to a long life on her family, Taillefer laughs. “Mom has always loved nature. She always took walks, and she always had a big garden. Maybe that’s it: fresh vegetables and life in the country.”
Taillefer refers to her mother’s age as a gift for the entire family, which now includes 29 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. She says her mother was always very attentive, and when her great-grandchildren would visit, she would always have something special to share with each one.
Boucher and Taillefer celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary together at the Résidence Riviera in Huntingdon on August 2, 2022. Taillefer passed away shortly after on September 24. (SR)