Gilles Plante died on March 2, 2024. By choice.

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2017, Gilles made his own decision about when and how to leave this planet.

Years earlier, it was said, Gilles watched his mother deteriorate and die with Alzheimer’s disease. He wanted to spare himself and his loved ones that same unlovely fate.

So with the assistance of MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) Nova Scotia, Gilles Plante chose to die at a time and place of his own choosing.

Gilles Plante was married for over 30 years to author Sheree Fitch. Sheree called him her Deeply Dimpled Frenchman (having been born and raised in Quebec, Canada).

Sheree Fitch might be a relative unknown in the US unless you have, or ever had, kids. In Canada, she is a superstar.

Stories like Toes in My Nose and Sleeping Dragons All Around enthralled my kids when they were little. Truth be told, those books enthralled their Mom, too.

So when CBC/Radio Canada TV cameraman Gilles met much-published children’s author Sheree Fitch, a beautiful love story and life journey began. Their mutual adoration was obvious and enviable to outsiders.

Sheree’s inherent talent and goodness pours out of her pores. Always has done.

Enter Gilles who had – as Sheree once described – the kindest eyes she had ever seen. Their meeting in Halifax, NS derailed Gilles’ ambition for an overseas CBC posting and had him happily step into the role of husband and stepfather to Sheree’s two children.

Gilles eventually did land a foreign posting in Washington, DC for a number of years. When he retired, they headed back to Canada to fulfill a mutual lifelong dream. Gilles and Sheree bought a hobby farm together in River John, Nova Scotia that would become their home base and a local cultural beacon.

On the farm, Gilles got to pursue his woodworking passion and take care of animals. Sheree continued to write and create. They became deeply entrenched cheerleaders in and for their new community.

So when the River John community school closed, Gilles and Sheree were eager to fill the void. Thus Mabel Murple’s Dreamery was born. A “bookshoppe” by definition but actually so much more.

A gathering place. A recitation hall. A cultural flag and beacon of literacy planted in rural Nova Scotia. Until COVID hit, book lovers and Mabel Murple lovers and Sheree Fitch lovers came by the thousands to visit this “summer season only” literary oasis.

I have been a Sheree fan for decades from a distance. I have watched her star rise in the Canadian literary firmament. I have delighted in her delicious wordplay and slippery command of the English language.

I watched her marriage somewhat wistfully and I celebrated Sheree. I felt her happiness was the just dessert she reaped for the joy and delight she spread about to others with abandon.

In the wake of COVID, Sheree and Gilles lost their adult son Dustin. Fate can sometimes seem crueler and more intentional to some than others. For no good reason.

Difficult fate came into Sheree’s life once again recently. In the past two weeks, Sheree lost not only Gilles, but her beloved mother, Doe. Too much for any soul to have to bear. Let us hope it is true that God never gives us anything more difficult than we can handle.

In her “Museletter,” Sheree asked for words from friends and acquaintances at this tender time. Her experience of life-altering loss is all too relatable and ahead of all of us, if we haven’t yet experienced it.

But in the sweet words of love and appreciation shared about Gilles in his obituary, we are left with what we all might want at our passing. The choice to have made our own decision about where, when and how we elect to leave the earth. And with whom.

To have loved and to have been loved as Gilles and Sheree did each other is a great legacy for anyone to hope for.

In terms of devotion, longevity, productivity, and joyously living every day, Gilles and Sheree set a very high bar indeed.

RIP Gilles Plante and Doe Fitch.

You lived well and with much love – given and received.

That’s something we should all hope for when we take our leave.