Monique Esther Nemni
March 27, 1936 – November 2, 2022
On November 2, while on a long-awaited Mediterranean cruise with her beloved spouse of almost 70 years, Monique suffered a heart attack and died in Naples, Italy. She was a vibrant, intelligent, loveable woman who will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know her. She is survived by her husband Max who is missing half of his heart now, as well as her daughters Colette (Jack), Jacqueline (Greg), her 5 grandchildren, Julien (Stephanie), Rachel (Navin), Nicolas (Sara), Zoe and Mark (Natalie), and her 3 great grandchildren, Olivia, Henry and Sydney.
Born in Egypt, she and Max came to Canada in 1956. She got a PhD in linguistics and taught at York University, then l’UQAM in Montreal. Teaching was her passion and she covered all levels of education from grade one to Ph.D. She was beloved by all of her students. In the early nineties, she and Max became co-editors of Cité libre magazine as a means of combating a growing number of people who wanted to break Canada. Through Cité libre, they continued the struggle started in the early fifties by Pierre Trudeau and a few others who wanted to protect Canada’s unity. In so doing, they befriended Pierre Trudeau and later co-wrote two biographies which were very successful and won awards. Monique and Max are very proud Canadians and they both worked tirelessly to prevent the breakup of the country that she often described as the best in the world.
She continued to stay active, mentally and physically, up until the very end. She loved playing bridge with her neighbours in Toronto and in Longboat Key, Florida, was an avid pickleball player and a formidable word game enthusiast, doing the Wordle until the day she died.
We will miss her sense of humour, her intellect and her playfulness.
A celebration of life will be held at Turner and Porter Funeral home, 2180 Hurontario St, Mississauga, on January 8 from 2 to 5 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Amnesty International or MSF.
