With deep gratitude and love for a long life well lived, we say farewell to our family matriarch after a nine-year dementia journey. Francine Niles died peacefully at home on June 12, 2026 with family members by her side. Born in Cap-Pelé, N.B., on July 2, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Antoine Landry and the late Melesse Brun.

She is survived by Eugene, her devoted husband of 70 years; five children: Michele, Dan, Dave (Sharon), Michael (Marsha), and Colette (Paul); seven grandchildren: Jennifer, Paul (Liza), Katrina (Corey), Mark (Racheal), Amy (Quinton), Kenton, and Benjamin; four great-grandchildren: Alex, Ash, Harper and Henry; daughter-in-law Tamara; and her brother Oscar.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by younger brother Roger and son-in-law Robert.

Great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, wife, lover, best friend, dedicated daily walker, enthusiastic cyclist, a sometimes golfer and skier, a lifetime devotee of yoga, a tireless volunteer, an antique collector and refinisher, a book collector and voracious reader who belonged to two book clubs at the same time, a doer by example but never a braggart!

As a military wife with five children born within six years, and living in 18 homes in five provinces during 20 years of moving across Canada, Francine became an expert in packing up a home, unpacking and creating a new home while getting the children registered in school and activities. She was an innovative household manager, having to shop and cook for a family of seven with a very limited budget while also navigating the numerous children’s activities.

Francine enjoyed physical activities and fitness long before it became a health trend. Walking became a passion because it could involve every family member at no cost. As the children grew up, cycling was added and remained her favourite activity until late in life.

After her children grew up and left home, Francine decided it was her turn to go to university, first in Saint-Boniface Manitoba and then, after returning to New Brunswick, at the Université de Moncton where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. While at university she developed a passion for photography including developing her own photos.

After moving to her country home in Saint-André-LeBlanc, she developed a love of gardening, particularly growing roses. She could prune a rose bush like a pro and devoted many hours in her rose garden.

Francine’s greatest pleasure in life was entertaining her seven grandchildren at the "farm" without their parents so she could share her many passions and spoil them, while instilling enduring memories the grandchildren, now adults, cherish to this day.

A lifelong yoga practitioner well into her 80s until her illness, she qualified as a teacher after attending seminars at Ashrams in Quebec, and she enjoyed sharing her passion for yoga with students.

In retirement she became a devoted volunteer, serving many years with Hospice Shediac alongside founder Helen Bateman and at food kitchens in Moncton and, during the winter months, in Arizona and Florida. She loved reading to grade 2 students with the Lire et Faire Lire program.

Francine was passionate about good nutrition, daily walking, cycling, skiing and, finally, golfing which she took up in later life. She liked to say she was a better golfer than Eugene!

She enjoyed her regular get-togethers with life-long friends, Annette, Jeannita and Thérѐse, celebrating birthdays and special occasions with them.

Later in life, Francine enjoyed long winters in Arizona and later in Florida, where she watched her beloved Blue Jays during spring training.

Francine was indeed a matriarch in the best sense of the word and will be greatly missed.

The family is most grateful for the loving care provided by her home support workers, Hazel, Christine and Angel, over the past five years. The exceptional, professional loving care provided by numerous Extra Mural staff permitted Francine to remain in her home during her entire dementia journey.

A celebration of Francine’s life will be held on Friday July 24, 2026, at 3 pm at Frenette Funeral and Cremation Centre, 88 Church Street, Moncton (506-858-1900), to allow her many family members and friends to attend. Interment will be in Sainte-Thérèse-d’Avila parish cemetery in Cap-Pelé. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of Francine’s preferred charities, Hospice South East N.B. and Harvest House Atlantic.

Words of comfort and donations may be done at www.frenettefuneralhome.com.