It is with true sadness and grief that we must tell you of the passing of Darlene Lynn Boudreau-McKay, 75, surrounded by family and friends at The Moncton Hospital on December 29 2025. Darlene was born in The Moncton Hospital on February 6, 1950 to the late Laurie and Margaret (Gould) Boudreau.
Darlene is survived by and will be sadly missed by her husband, Ross McKay; son Stephen (Jennifer) Leblanc; stepdaughter, Dawn (Brian) Bell; grandchildren: Isaiah Leblanc, Tristen Leblanc, Rayna Bell and Malcolm Bell; sisters: Angela (Roger) Bourgeois and Claudette (Greg) Turner; sisters-in-law: Joanne (Garry) and Diana (Larry); brother-in-law, Gary (Pamela) McKay; a very special friend, Angie Evers; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family.
Darlene was predeceased by her daughter, Josee Lise Leblanc; brothers: Garry and Larry; and nephew, David Boudreau.
Darlene’s life began on Churchill St., Moncton, while she lived the rest of her life on Dover Road, Dieppe, Taipei Taiwan, Hong Kong and Bangkok Thailand. In her youth, Darlene loved to sing, and many hours were spent driving her to Moncton for singing lessons.
After graduating from high school and a few years working in a restaurant and doing secretarial work for a Moncton accounting firm, she decided to follow her first love, hairstyling or cosmetology. This love started with a haircut on her barbie doll in her early years and stayed with her until the end. After taking a course and becoming a licenced member in the trade in 1980, she worked in a number of Moncton salons and then with her business partner Fern LeBlanc, the Salon Marie Antoinette.
In 1989, she married Ross and they moved to Taipei Taiwan working with Canadian Standards Association in an inspection management office. The years in Taiwan, then Hong Kong and Bangkok Thailand were wonderful years for Darlene. She led the life of an expat wife, invited to socialize with the Canadian diplomatic representative groups, motorbike club and immersing herself in the local cultures. Darlene also volunteered helping to educate Vietnamese refugees with United Nations HCR in the United Nations camps in Hong Kong. Friendships were made with people from all over the world. She traveled extensively in Asia and Australasia and enjoyed annual trips back to Canada with stops in the UK and Europe.
Back in Canada Darlene became a licenced cosmetology instructor, bought and operated New Image Beauty School. Some years later, after selling the school and going into a working retirement, she reduced her working days but still had a number of loyal clients up until her health no longer permitted her to work in 2025.
During her teaching and working years, she was very proud to hold and work in a number of positions on the Executive Board of Directors and Committees of The Cosmetology Association of New Brunswick.
We would like to thank all of the fantastic staff at the Dr. Sheldon H. Ruben Clinic, on the oncology and palliative floors of The Moncton Hospital for their dedicated understanding and hard-working staff.
A celebration of life will be held at the Moncton Press Club, 160 Assomption Boulevard, Moncton, on Saturday January 31, 2026. Friends, clients and family are cordially invited to join the family from 2:30 pm until 6:30 pm.
Words of comfort and donations may be made at www.frenettefuneralhome.com