Juliette Renaud Becigneul

Juliette Renaud Becigneul  (1916-2021)

Juliette Simone Becigneul, age 104, lifelong resident of Roseville, Michigan, peacefully passed away on January 18, 2021, in Plymouth, MI.  Beloved wife of the late Louis Joseph Becigneul, married July 12, 1945, at Assumption College Chapel in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.  Loving mother of Mimi Becigneul Sullivan (Kevin), and Margo Pardi (Vincent), both of Plymouth, MI.

Pre-deceased by cherished twin sister, Cecile Gorno, (Joseph), Irene (Harry) Spearing, Norma (Jerry) Hoy, Marceline Webster, and Armand (Madeleine) Renaud, Gloria (Alvin) Drouillard, and dear granddaughter, Jennifer Kayl.  Adored grandmother of Michelle (Mark) McCoy, Stephanie Macey, Renee Ahearn, Matthew (Amy) Macey and Chad Macey.

She was dearly loved and blessed with 10 great grandchildren: Connor, Cassidy, Caitlyn, Dillon and Riley McCoy, Madison Becigneul Koonter, Sophia Macey, Nolan and Andrew Ahearn and Abigail Macey.  She was also loved and known as Grandma to the Adas and Pardi families and blessed with so many loving nieces and nephews and dear friends.

Her children and family were her greatest joy.

Juliette was born in the French speaking farming community of La Salle, Ontario, Canada, on November 22, 1916, a twin and the fifth of seven children, born to Evangeline Anne (nee Beneteau) and Achille Renaud.  She was baptized at Our Lady of Assumption Church, in Windsor, Ontario.  She later became a naturalized U.S. Citizen when her husband Louis, joined the U.S. Army in 1945.

She attended the University of Ottawa Normal School and graduated from Hotel-Dieu of St. Joseph School of Nursing, in 1942, as a Registered Nurse.  She worked as a surgical nurse at Art Centre Hospital in Detroit.  Later in 1970, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Eastern Michigan University and started her second career as a third-grade teacher at St. Athanasius Church School, where she and Louis, were founders and active parishioners.  She remained a parishioner for 56 years. She later taught nursing in the Warren Consolidated School District Career Prep Center, retiring from her career, as a school nurse in the district.

Juliette was always very active at St. Athanasius, chairing fund raisers, was a member of the Altar Society, was a Eucharist Minister and Reader and led the Senior Ministry, conducting weekly Eucharistic  Services for senior residences.   She also was a life-long member of the Deaconate Wives Mosaic of Women’s Group, as wife of Louis, who was in the Archdiocese of Detroit Deaconate program, prior to his death in 1981.

Juliette always enjoyed traveling, playing games, walking on the beach and through the autumn leaves, vacationing in their motor home, spending winter weeks with her twin in Florida, and in her later years, the cottage in Canada.  She celebrated her 100th birthday in November 2016 with a great many dear friends and family members, and also in Chicago, with her twin sister.

Juliette lived in their Roseville home that Louis built in 1950 until 2006, then in American House East 1, until December 2019, when she came to live with the Pardi’s, at her final home in Plymouth.

She was a very devout Catholic and had a very special devotion to St. Anne and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, praying the rosary daily.  The rosary rarely left her hands, even throughout her final days. She received an Absolution and Apostolic Blessing by Fr. Anthony Camilleri days before she passed on.

A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Isadore Catholic Church, Macomb, MI. presided by  Fr. Ron Victor and Deacon Bill Stimpson, followed by burial at Resurrection Cemetery, in Clinton Township, MI.

In keeping with her faith and devotion to the Capuchin Missions, contributions can be made to The Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Development Office, 1820 Mt Elliott St., Detroit, MI, or on-line at cskdetroit.org/online-donations.

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