LECLERC, Jacqueline Marie Anne (née Lafrance)

June 21, 1934 — June 27, 2026

Jacqueline passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of elegance, intelligence, and extraordinary spirit. Born in Quebec City on June 21, 1934, she grew up in a lively household of five siblings, born to an Acadian mother—a talented pianist, organist, and harpist—and a Québécois father, who served as a military engineer in England during World War II before becoming a senior official in the Federal government. Her grandfather was a respected medical doctor.

From the very beginning, Jacqueline was a young woman of independent mind, possessing a rare memory and routinely topping her class. Though her academic promise was bright, she chose to bring her formal education to an early close to devotedly care for her ailing mother during her battle with cancer. At just eight years old, she had memorized and recited the Hail Mary in Chinese for a visiting missionary—a prayer she beautifully remembered and repeated for her family in her final days. During the war, her family relocated frequently throughout the Eastern Townships and Montreal, requiring Jacqueline to adapt to many new schools before returning to the beautiful hamlet of Château d’Eau near Quebec City.

Though delicate in appearance, Jacqueline was fiercely spirited. As a young girl, she wasn’t afraid to win a neighbourhood boys’ fight, and she was the only girl on the local baseball team. Her determination was legendary; at age 16, she famously took her father’s car without permission and drove it—a manual transmission that required a complex double-clutching technique, to boot—entirely without a licence from Château d’Eau into Quebec City just to take her driving test. The examiner remained completely oblivious as to how she or the vehicle had arrived. She was exceptionally athletic, excelling in archery and tennis; at age 21, she won the Women’s Championship at Quebec City’s major tennis club. Her striking looks also led to a modelling career in her youth, which she delightfully revisited later in her seventies.

A popular young woman sought after by many well-pedigreed suitors, Jacqueline chose the love of her life, Guy. They were married on May 10, 1958. Together, they built a life of adventure, beginning with a move to Ottawa for Guy’s career with the Federal government. In 1961, Jacqueline gave birth to their beloved son, Charles. She was a deeply devoted mother, driving Charles ten miles round-trip to school every day for 8 years.

She also brought her signature touch of class to the great outdoors; in the late 1960s, she became a true pioneer of “glamping” long before the term ever existed. During family camping trips, Jacqueline would expertly orchestrate their campsites, outfitting them with the most comfortable gear, pristine tents, and luxurious bedding anyone could ever hope for. Never one to shy away from a new challenge, she also boldly took up horseback riding in her late 50s while living in Ottawa, embracing the sport with her signature determination.

Once Charles had started a family of his own, Guy retired from the Federal government. It was then that Jacqueline joined Guy on global assignments, which took them across many countries and led to them living in the Middle East and Africa. Throughout these journeys, Jacqueline embraced the opportunity to travel widely and made lifelong friends of all nationalities.

Her life was often punctuated by remarkable, almost movie-like moments. In October 1989, she accompanied Guy on a business trip to San Francisco. Upon arriving, Jacqueline expressed an unsettling feeling and warned Guy about the immediate risk of a major earthquake—an anxiety he dismissed as completely ridiculous. Yet, on their very second day in the city, the infamous 7.1 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake struck. Trapped in the unfolding chaos, Jacqueline and Guy were forced to huddle in the hotel basement alongside other guests. Cut off from the outside world and entirely incommunicado for days, they survived in the darkness until emergency teams finally rescued and evacuated them. It was a testament to her eerie foresight and calm resilience under pressure.

Jacqueline was a remarkably distinguished and classy woman. An avid reader, she loved current events and politics just as much as she loved fiction. She began every morning with The Globe and Mail and the New York Times, effortlessly mastering their daily puzzles. She possessed an astute political mind, always accurately predicting world events.

Socially, Jacqueline was unmatched. Though raised in a French-speaking household in Quebec, she was an ardent Anglophile and a great admirer of British royalty, an affection that deeply influenced her timeless aesthetic style. Known for her warmth, extensive intelligence, and sharp humour, she was always impeccably dressed—stylish, chic, and perfectly suited for every occasion. She was also the brilliant “Minister of Finance” for the household, expertly negotiating real estate transactions and managing subsequent renovations with a rare talent for getting exactly what she envisioned.

Around the age of 60, Jacqueline and Guy moved to Kelowna, British Columbia, to be closer to Charles and his family. There, she and Guy discovered a beautiful lake view property, and she proceeded to completely transform it floor-to-floor using her own designs and carefully chosen contractors. In retirement, she became a legendary hostess, holding sophisticated dinner parties featuring serious intellectual discussions and using her beautiful collection of varied dinnerware. She was a member of a highly reputed book club, took adult education courses for years with a focus on politics and history, and loved a good, healthy debate.

Jacqueline lived life to the fullest. An excellent, effortless driver well into her eighties, she also took up golf later in life. Showing her trademark luck and skill, she even celebrated two spectacular holes-in-one. She was, in every sense of the word, extraordinary.

Jacqueline was predeceased by her siblings Claude Lafrance, Madeleine Bourdon (née Lafrance), and Jules Lafrance. She is survived and deeply mourned by her loving husband, Guy Leclerc, and her son, Charles Leclerc. She leaves behind her beloved brother, Paul Lafrance of Quebec City. She is also survived by her cherished daughter-in-law, Nicky, and her dear grandsons, Daniel, Alain, and Sylvain, all of Vancouver. She additionally leaves behind a large and loving extended family of nieces, nephews, and in-laws across both the Lafrance and Leclerc families, along with many dear friends she touched across the world.

She also leaves behind a cherished circle of deeply loyal and close friends in Kelowna, whose laughter, warmth, and enduring companionship filled her retirement years with immense joy.

A Celebration of Life was held in Jacqueline’s honour in August of 2026. Thank you to all who attended.

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