Mercedes (Forestier) Courchesne

Mercedes (Forestier) Courchesne, 83, of Hamilton passed away on Tuesday, August 16, 2022.

“Mercy” was born on New Year’s Day in 1939. She grew up on the prairies of Saskatchewan and Alberta, the eldest daughter of six children. She often told stories of growing up in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan receiving school and piano lessons from the nuns of the parish. Mercy loved to take care of people, and this led to her career in nursing. She graduated as a registered nurse from Edmonton General Hospital in 1962 and then immigrated to the United States, working in San Francisco. Her precise nature led her to the intensive care unit and she became an excellent ICU nurse.

In California she married Norman Courchesne and together they raised three boys; Mike, Steve, and John. They lived in California, Hawaii, and Oregon before settling in Great Falls in 1974. Mercy spent many years in the ICU, medical floor, and ER, but her nursing career also led her to many other interesting places. She spent two wonderful summers in Glacier Park as the nurse at Lake McDonald Lodge and there she made lifelong friends. She had adventures as a traveling nurse throughout the west, then moved to Missoula and worked in home health until retiring and moving to Hamilton to be closer to her grandchildren.

Mercy played piano from the age of five, and was taught by the nuns in Duck Lake. She played for fun and for family gatherings all her life. Her family shares many fond memories of singing songs gathered around her and her piano. While working at Lake McDonald Lodge she played in the dining room during evenings. Later in life, living at Sapphire Homes she took on students, played for friends and residents, and for a while they even had a band. Long after her memory failed her and she was confused by her surroundings, she could still play beautifully and entertain. Mercy enjoyed traveling, shopping, camping and fishing. She loved horses and owned and rode her own at different times in her life. Most of all she cherished her family and friends, and made a wonderful home for us to visit or return to.

Her family would like to thank all her friends and all who were kind to her over the years, in particular the staff of Sapphire Lutheran Homes and the Remington. She was a wonderful and loving mother and grandmother, a caring friend, and she will be missed.

In addition to her parents, Mercy was predeceased by her brother, Lionel and her son, Michael. Mercy is survived by her two sons, John and his wife Yvonne of Hamilton, and Steve and his wife Kate of Fletcher, Oklahoma, and her grandchildren; Mercedes, Steven, Gus and Em, her sisters Dolores and Marcelline, and her brothers Henri and Jerry and their families.

A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022 at 2p.m. at John’s home, 1422 Golf Course Rd, Hamilton, MT. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com