Marie Berthe Renaud was one of seven children of Alexina and Pierre-Albert Renaud, who raised their kids on the strength of love, respect, compassion and discipline.
Early on, Berthe showed all the signs of a gifted athlete. She was fearless, excelling at tennis, downhill skiing, canoeing and occasionally strapping on goalie pads for the boys' hockey team.
She landed her first office job as a secretary in Quebec City with Anglo-Canadian Pulp and Paper. She often crossed paths at work with Francis O'Farrell, who worked in the pulp and paper mill but, much to her surprise, frequently visited her department. Berthe fell in love with Francis and they were married in 1953.
Only months after making their matrimonial home, Berthe and Francis escaped a fire that destroyed their apartment. After that night, they started anew on the numerous adventures they would share as partners in life.
Working as a secretary for the 1950s trade union movement in Quebec, Berthe successfully challenged her own union bosses by fighting for the right to keep her job during her pregnancy.
Berthe and Francis had three children, Kevin, Glenn and James. The family lived in Quebec City and spent weekends and summers at the farm in Saint-Malachie, where Francis pursued his dream of holding elected office. Francis loved politics and Berthe would soon share his passion, becoming his principal ally and strategic adviser.
The hard work paid off when Francis was elected to represent Dorchester and joined the ranks of Jean Lesage's provincial government of la révolution tranquille. Berthe worked full-time as Francis's secretary, refusing to be paid, and was always present in the lives of her sons with unconditional love and support.
Over the years, Berthe received a staggering number of guests to share a meal. Visitors ranged from extended family to friends to their acquaintances, if they too were hungry. Francis would often surprise Berthe by bringing strangers he met on the street to join them for a meal. All were made welcome by the genuine and disarming warmth Berthe conveyed.
In 1986, Francis and Berthe retired to the farm, where they undertook a restoration project at their ancestral O'Farrell family home.
Francis died in 1992 of heart failure. Shaken by the loss of her partner, Berthe rebounded and filled her life with travels at home and abroad with family. She invested herself in the lives of her five grandchildren. Her advancing years enriched her sense of humour and focused her already sharp wit. She passed away peacefully, leaving the memory of her selfless giving and quiet goodness.
Glenn O'Farrell is Berthe's son.