We said our hardest goodbye on August 19, 2025. Our Mom, Lillas Denise (Bezanson) Roussy faced the end just as she lived it, on her own terms. She fought a battle no one should ever have to fight with such resilience, grace and unwavering strength.

Those left to carry on without her include her true love, Andrew Roussy; the children they raised together, Brianne (Stephen Mostowich) and Renee; her grandchildren whom she adored, Henley Diane MacDonald, Nicholas Stephen Mostowich and Nathan Drew Mostowich; her dear mother in law Heather Roussy, sister in law Pam Lilley (Darren Lilley), nephew Cameron, niece Amelia and Colton Smith, her son by choice.

Our Mom met our dad at the age of 14, he was 15. She always said the moment she saw him at his school hockey game she knew she was going to take her chance and that’s exactly what she did. Dad would tell you love at first sight is not just a concept, it exists, and he instantly fell for the girl who was humble, kind and radiated beauty from the inside out. They became inseparable after that night and built a life full of love and laughter; one that we are so grateful to have witnessed and be a part of.

Growing up with a mother whose love knew no bounds and was always present is one of our greatest gifts. She gave us the values and foundation we needed to make our way in a world that is not always fair or kind. We knew that home was a safe place of refuge we could turn to no matter the circumstance. She reminded us how worthy and deserving of real love we were when we doubted ourselves. She guided us through all the joy and the darkness of life and she made sure we knew that the love she gave was unconditional. If we get to live more than one lifetime, we will find her and choose her in every one. We feel incredibly privileged to have had such a beautiful, compassionate and loving woman as our Mom.

Just when you thought her love couldn’t become any greater, her grandchildren came along. Mom adored Henley, Nicholas and Nathan (her dolly, moo man and bear) when they would say “I love you nanny” she always made sure to get the last word by saying “I love you most” so they knew just how great her love for them was. She never missed an opportunity to give whether that meant buying 12 pairs of new jammies for Nicholas when he only asked for one, giving one of her infamous head rubs to Nathan when he needed some calming down after a long day or telling Henley “you are loved, you are kind, you are smart, you are brave and you are always a part of my heart” when needing some reassurance before heading to school each morning. She would tell you the best thing about her life was being a nanny to her grandchildren and having the opportunity to love each one of them even though time wasn’t on our side.

When you think of a superpower you probably think of flying or laser vision but for our Mom, it was love. Mom believed love could solve anything and being around her meant feeling valued, appreciated and cherished. She made sure you knew you were always heard and never alone. She even earned the nickname Momma D from all our childhood friends because of how she cared so deeply for people and treated them as if they were her own. Not only was she someone you could lean on, but she was also the life of the party and loved to have a laugh. She was a Mom and a friend to anyone who needed it.

It was Moms deep love for people and the world that led her to become a registered nurse. She was a proud graduate of the Aberdeen School of Nursing and later from St. Francis Xavier University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She spent long days caring for others and even longer nights studying but she never gave up on reaching her goals. She devoted herself to helping the people of Pictou County for over 30+ years, from pediatric nursing, becoming a board member of the nursing union NSGEU to finishing her career as a public health nurse. Something she genuinely valued was the work of the union and advocating for the rights of all nurses within the healthcare system. In Mom’s own words it was “a career that showed me joy, pain, triumph and tragedy. I am grateful for the lessons I have learned and the friends I have made through this rewarding profession.”

When our Mom lost her parents much too early in life, she learned the very profound lesson that time is never promised. Her grief gave her the philosophy that “someday” is never the time to start making memories, it is right now. She lived her life out loud, collecting many friends along the way and having fun in everything she did. It will remain a mystery how one person could be considered a best friend to so many. Those friends offered so much support during Moms last days. Visiting and reminiscing on cherished memories; the stories of dancing outside in the inflatable dinosaur costumes, singing and dancing to old 80’s tunes in the kitchen and finally winning a game of dominoes in one of our competitive family game nights will live on forever. It was all the love and kindness she received that kept her smiling and brave till the end. She impacted those around her in the most beautiful way, likely without her ever knowing just how important she really was to everyone who knew her.

Grief of this magnitude can only be possible because of a love so immense. Through all the love and the laughter, Mom lived a life in which her presence will always be greater than her absence. The love and happiness she left us with are worth more than a thousand lifetimes and we will take her with us everywhere we go. Mom, your love, values, life lessons and kindness will always be a part of us, and we will share your stories forever especially to your “Dolly, Moo man and Bear”. We will always value family and stand by one another like we promised. Our souls will miss yours for eternity but we will continue to search for you in all the sunsets, in all the flowers and in all the “bright and cheery” things in life, just like you wanted.

Our family would like to thank all the people who provided care to Mom over her journey including the palliative care team, Dr. Jazwari and staff as well as the oncology unit at the Aberdeen Regional Hospital.

In place of flowers, you are welcome to donate to a charity of your choice or honour her memory with a simple act of kindness. We will be organizing a celebration of life later and will share the details with everyone once plans are finalized.

There are no words that could truly encompass just how beautiful of a person she really was. Mom’s love was indescrible and our love for her will always prevail. This loss feels unbearable and we will mourn the time that was unfairly robbed from us. Having to grieve her longer than we got to love her is a pain that will never dull. Summing up her life in a few short paragraphs is nearly impossible. So, we will let Mom have the final word. Shortly before her passing, she wrote:

“I grew up in Abercrombie, surrounded by a family that always made me feel loved. I consider myself very fortunate in that regard. I met my true love Andrew Gerald Roussy at the age of 14 and he was 15. We married in 1993 and created the most beautiful family together, my biggest accomplishment in this life. My daughters, Bethany Brianne Mostowich and Renee Racine Roussy have made me so proud as they strive to succeed in this upside-down world. They have blessed me with the most precious grandchildren, Henley Diane MacDonald, Nicholas Stephen Mostowich and Nathan Drew Mostowich. These children are my heart and if love could sustain life, I would have lived forever.”