Danielle Choquette RIP

June 27, 1941 – February 18, 2021
Danielle Choquette (Marie Ariane Alexandrine Marguerite Danielle Helene Choquette) passed on to the Spirit World on February 18, 2021.

She is survived by her loving husband, Tony (Anthony) Belcourt (Almonte, ON); her stepdaughters, Christi Belcourt (Espanola, ON) and Suzanne Belcourt (Picton, ON); stepson, Shane Belcourt, and his wife, Amanda Greener (Toronto, ON); step granddaughters, Jeana Peltier and Claire Belcourt.

She is also survived by her brother, Michel Choquette, and his partner, Erika Eriksson Ciment, (both of Montreal, QC), and by the latter’s daughter, Ilanit Michele Woods, and her family (London, GB). Danielle is preceded in death by her father, author and diplomat Robert Choquette, and by her mother, Marguerite Choquette (née Canac-Marquis).

Danielle was born on June 27, 1941, in Montreal. Danielle had a life-long passion for languages and studied in Montreal, Madrid, Washington and Leningrad. With an ability to converse in many languages, Danielle worked as a professional interpreter for 45 years in French, English and Spanish. Danielle was employed by the Canadian House of Commons for 10 years, then became a partner in Conference Interpreters of Canada and retired from the firm in 2015. For the past 25 years she participated actively in the work of a private foundation she had created with her brother to keep their father’s literary legacy alive.

Danielle will always be remembered as a remarkable person of incredible beauty, grace and intelligence. She was endlessly loving, tender and generous. Danielle was constantly enlivened through her inquisitiveness and fervour for music, animals and plant life. She was devoted to the dignity of all Peoples and for the expansion and recognition of the rights of Indigenous peoples of the Americas. The magic she left us in her smile is a blessing to all who knew her. The presence of Danielle will forever remain in the hearts of her loving husband, brother, family and friends. Danielle will be eternally missed. May her journey to the Spirit World be peaceful as she is welcomed into the arms of her ancestors.

A celebration of life will be held this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully accepted by La Fondation Robert-Choquette (6592 boul. St-Laurent, bur.3, Montréal QC H2S 3C6), Nimkii Aazhibikong Culture Camp and Language Learning Centre (https://nimkiiaazhibikong.com/charitable-donation/) or the SPCA.
Published on February 23, 2021

Dear Erika and Michel, I am so terribly sad to learn this news and send you my deepest sympathy. I have so many fond memories of our times together: Murray Bay, Montreal, Washington -where we shared an apartment- and one wonderful chance encounter in Paris on the Faubourg St-Honoré. She was a lovely, gracious, person, thoughtful, kind with a generous spirit despite having gone through some really difficult times. I am so glad that her later years were so happy with Tony, if only she could have enjoyed better health. I mourn with you and send much love. Diana

Erika Eriksson Ciment
Dear Diana
I knew you knew and loved Danielle very much.
Tony is the most loving husband who did everything in his power to make Danielle comfortable when she became sick.
We miss her terribly