Rosemary (Mishibinijima) Lavallee

In Loving Memory of 
Rosemary Lavallee (nee Mishibinijima)
June 28, 1933 – June 22, 2026

Rosemary Lavallee (nee Mishibinijima), age 92, gently passed through the Western door on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Little Current, Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Her room at the Manitoulin Health Centre was filled with loving family and friends recalling precious moments with her.  

Born in 1933 in Wikwemikong to Albert Mishibinijima and Mary Jane Pangowish, Rosemary attended Spanish Indian Residential School and the TB sanitorium before she returned to her community. She was a ‘thriver’ rather than a ‘survivor’ from these early experiences.
In addition to being a devoted mother, wife, auntie, grandmother and great grandmother, she took great pride in her lifelong career as a nurse.

While home from her schooling she was organizing a dance and needed a square dance caller, someone directed her to Moses Lavallee. She returned to complete her training at Nursing College in Toronto and married Moses Lavallee. They both worked in Toronto and raised their family there, many times sharing their home with others.

Throughout her life Rosemary remained devoted to the Church and community life. During their decades in the city she volunteered at the Native Canadian Centre, with the AIDS community and other agencies in Toronto and later she served with the Ontario Native Women’s Association and the Native Women’s Association of Canada. Rosemary was a gifted storyteller recalling events, dates, times and people
with impeccable memory. A few years ago, she shared some of her recollections in a memoir, ‘From Institution to Institution’.

During her retirement years, living in Little Current, she took great joy in having company, sharing meals and stories. She loved baking bread and pies. She was an avid reader and writer. 

Rosemary was predeceased by her parents,
her beloved husband Moses Lavallee,
brother Joe Peter Mishibinijima
and many dear nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her sister Esther Wyldes,

her children
Karen J. Pheasant,
Sharon Lavallee (Harvey Bondy-baa)
and Tim Lavallee;

her grandchildren Sophie (Richard), Matthew, Jesse (Kyla), Lisa Marie, Jenmee (Kaylene), Ryan, Cheyanne and Ashley,

great grandchildren Ezra, Kalli, Torin, Francesca, Lilly, Mattelin, Olin, Jaxon and Chaske.

Also survived by Isadore Pheasant Jr. and Peter Jones who she loved like sons,
as well as many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Family and friends will gather
Visitation at St. Anthony Daniel Church, Kaboni
on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 from 12pm.
Funeral Mass at Holy Cross Mission Church, Wikwemikong,
on Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 11am.
Cremation to follow.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rosemary (Mishibinijima) Lavallee, please visit our floral store.