Watch above: The funeral for La Prairie mayor, Lucie Roussel, was held Saturday afternoon. Roussel died last week from 15 wasp stings. Family, politicians, but also members of the public came to pay their respects. Global’s Ines de la Cuetara has the story.
LA PRAIRIE – It was a dark day in La Prairie, as hundreds gathered at the Eglise de la Nativite for the funeral of Mayor Lucie Roussel.
Her family, all city councillors, Mayor Denis Coderre, and Quebec’s Municipal Affairs Minister, Pierre Moreau were all present.
“I knew her, she was very energetic, and she was very dedicated to her community,” said Moreau.
“I think it was very important for the government to be here today.”
Roussel died last week after stepping on a wasp nest at her cottage.
READ MORE: Mayor of La Prairie dies after being stung by wasps
She was subsequently stung 15 times.
Doctors say she wasn’t allergic, but was overcome by the number of stings. Her sudden death came as a shock to many.
Saturday’s service was also open to the public and many residents from the area wanted to be there to pay their respects to someone who they say wasn’t just a great mayor, but simply, a great woman.
“She was a rare pearl,” said Celine Monnette, a La Prairie resident, choking up. “She was an exceptional woman.”
“Instantly she made an impact on people,”said Eve Barrette-Marchand, city councillor for the La Briqueterie district in La Prairie.
“She was very determined and people knew that she was there for them, and that makes great politics but especially a great human being,”
“She was a great human being.”
Roussel was first elected as councillor in 1999, and later as Mayor in 2005 and served a total of three terms.
“She represented the city as nobody could,” said Barrette-Marchand.
“We’re gonna try and make that legacy go on.”
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