1951 – 2026
Mary Ellen Pelletier passed away on Tuesday afternoon April 28th 2026, peacefully surrounded by her family at the George Dumont Hospital in Moncton.
Mary Ellen was born at the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Chatham on February 3rd 1951, to Kathleen (Gough) and Raymond Hawkes, the second of seven children. She had a distinguished teaching career that started in Bathurst. Later, she and René moved back to the Miramichi where she taught both at the middle and high school levels and retired as a guidance counselor at Miramichi Valley high School.
She is survived by her husband, René Louis Pelletier. Together they raised a loving family: Dr. Anne Pelletier-Cameron, and her husband Michael Cameron of Ann Arbor Michigan, with their children Wesley and Luke; Denise Pelletier and partner Kelli Churchill of Tillsonburg Ontario with her children Mia and Ava; and Marc Pelletier-Sun, and his wife Maria of Sydney Australia with their children Sebastian and Giselle. Mary Ellen is survived by her sister Nancy Vessie and Blair of Moncton, Carolyn McNicol and Robert of Tucson Arizona, brothers Michael Hawkes and Heather of Halifax, Joseph Hawkes and Clare of Miramichi, Edward Hawkes and Ann Marie of Fredericton and sister-in-law Marty Hawkes of Miramichi. She is predeceased by her brother John Hawkes and her parents. She is survived by four brothers-in-law and a long list of nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
After retirement Mary Ellen enjoyed a full life taking up both curling and bridge applying the same gusto into these as she did her teaching career.
René and Mary Ellen’s home was a meeting place for friends and family to celebrate birthday parties and other special occasions. A family favorite was baby Jesus’s birthday the Sunday before Christmas where all the nieces and nephews received their first gift of the season. The true happy place for family and friends was their time spent at the Pelletier family cottage in Cap Pelé. A quick dip in the morning, Boci ball on the beach in the afternoon, or a hard-fought game of 200’s in the gazebo in the evening was where great memories of family and fellowship were made. Mary Ellen took every opportunity to spend time with her children and grandchildren, whether it was across the continent or halfway around the world.
Arrangements are entrusted to Cobb’s Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 330 Whitepine Rd. Riverview (506-869-2007). In lieu of flowers, family would appreciate donations in Mary Ellen’s name to the Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Foundation for research www.dumontfoundation.ca (choose I donate to research).
