Here is the story of an 87-year-old great-grandmother who had lived alone in her condo since her husband’s death. One fine morning, her son and daughter-in-law made a proposal that would change her life and break her isolation.
“We told him: ‘We suggest that you come and live with us, in the top of our duplex. Take the time to think about it. ” She said yes the next day! », Recount Jean-Marc Léger and his wife, France Des Roches.
It was in October 2019. A few months before the start of the pandemic and the containment measures. “It’s the best decision we made without knowing what was coming”, recognizes Jean-Marc afterwards.
Mireille Saurette Léger has been living under the same roof as her guardian angels for 18 months; she in her home, them in theirs.
You have to understand that it was not until June 2020 that she moved into her new home, the time to sell her condo and allow tenants to pack their boxes. “We had to respect the law [sur la Régie du logement] and give six months notice to my tenants, specifies Jean-Marc. Everything was done without any difficulty and my mother was able to come and settle in her new environment. ”
He was responsible for finding a buyer for his condo located in a tower, in the Bois-de-Boulogne sector. “Three days were enough,” says the real estate broker. We took advantage of the strength of the market. ”
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Jean-Marc Léger made some modifications to his duplex, including the installation of an electric chair on rails inside.
Once the transaction was concluded, he made changes to his duplex to facilitate the mobility of the new occupant of the premises. “We installed an electric chair on rails on the interior staircase,” he says. In doing so, my mother only has to activate a remote control to go up or down the fifteen steps. Everything is very safe. ”
He also purchased a heat pump to temper the apartment during hot summer days.
We spent a few thousand dollars to make his housing easier to access and more comfortable to live in. It is a very small amount, considering the advantages it gives him.
Jean-Marc Léger, about his mother’s accommodation
He adds: “We made good use of our duplex. If it can give ideas to others than us who would be tempted to cohabit with their parents, so much the better! ”
Because he believes in parent-child cohabitation, in the concept of intergenerational homes, at a time when many are wondering about the way in which we treat the elders, often left to their own devices, whose only option is to find a small furnished apartment in an anonymous residence.
Life that passes
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
A family reunited for Christmas. Surrounding Mirelle Saurette Léger, from left to right: her granddaughter Marie-Christine, her great-granddaughter Daphnée, her son Jean-Marc Léger, her granddaughter Élizabeth and her great-grandson Thierry.
But that’s not the point. Tonight, on Christmas Eve, Mireille Saurette Léger will dress up to celebrate with her son and daughter-in-law. She will happily reunite with her two granddaughters, Marie-Christine, 38, and Élizabeth, 34.
She will be entitled to the teasing smiles of her two great-grandchildren: Daphnée, 7 years old, and Thierry, 6 years old, the children of Elizabeth and her husband, Jérôme.
The members of the four generations will thus be gathered around a table which will certainly be well stocked. There will be a big absentee: Pierre Léger, Mireille’s husband, who died in 2014.
“I’m still lucky,” says Mireille, a touch of emotion in her voice. They take good care of me, they spoil me, I am surrounded by love every day. I have no reason to complain about my fate. ”
It is also Marie-Christine, his granddaughter, who insisted on putting up her Christmas tree. “She said to me: ‘I’m the one taking care of it!’ I let her do it. I could not say no to such a proposal! », Says the octogenarian.
Mme Saurette Léger admits that she does not have time to be bored in her “new life”. Two weeks ago, she even saw an elf arrive at her son and daughter-in-law, a tree under his arm, which he himself mounted and decorated under the amazed eyes of Daphnée and Thierry.
Unique moments
There is no doubt, confirms Jean-Marc Léger, that his mother Mireille lives happy moments every day. Unique moments that will remain forever etched in his memory. He recalls all those family dinners with his mother; all the laughter, this beautiful closeness between a mother and a son.
“We see each other every day, sometimes even two or three times a day, he assesses summarily. I have coffee with her every morning. I bring him his journal. I give him a summary of the news. We have a lot of fun together. ”
I especially don’t want to be intrusive. I want to respect their privacy. In the evening, I leave them alone. In my mind, it’s still a very young couple!
Mireille Saurette Leger
It makes France laugh, who has lived with Jean-Marc for… 41 years. “Invasive? I would even say that it is not enough, ”she said lightly.
She has a great relationship with her mother-in-law. And it is reciprocal. France cooks good hot meals for him. It is again she who brings her mother-in-law to the doctor when Jean-Marc is held back by his work.
A less serious pandemic
One thing is certain, the dean who once worked at Sears appreciates the fact of having found herself in this “family bubble” in times of pandemic. This allowed her to see everyone without too many constraints and to exchange frank smiles with those she loves.
“But I must tell you that I can’t wait to start leaving my house again to go and read a book for hours with Marie-Christine.” I can not wait, too, to go to the restaurant and walk in Fleury Street. I appreciate everything in life. I am happy. ”
The last word belongs to his son Jean-Marc.
“She took care of us. It’s up to us to take care of her. ”
There is nothing to add.