Lucie Marie Gregoire 

July 13, 1947 – September 30, 2026

Lucie Marie Gregoire, 79, of Coto de Caza, California, passed away on September 30, 2026, surrounded by loved ones after a courageous four-year battle with cancer. She faced her illness with strength, grace, and the fighting spirit that those who knew her came to expect.

Lucie was born on July 13, 1947, in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Canada, a historic French-Canadian community. French was her first language, and her French-Canadian heritage remained an important part of who she was throughout her life. On her 10th birthday, because of her father’s health, her family left Canada and resettled in the West Los Angeles area before eventually making their home in Culver City, California.

Lucie met the love of her life, Rénald Gregoire (Ron), when he was visiting her family after arriving from Canada just the day before. She breezed through the room after school and was soon off again to an after-school activity. After several attempts at arranging a date around her school commitments, she finally agreed to go to a baseball game with him. He later became her prom date, and the two married soon afterward. Over the next 60 years, they were devoted partners and best friends, building a life centered on family, travel, sports, games, and simply enjoying each other’s company.

About 10 years into their marriage, Lucie and Ron moved to Claremont, California, where they raised their family. Lucie devoted herself to being a loving and caring mother to Marc, Suzanne, and Darren. Later, she worked for 15 years as an administrative assistant at The Claremont Colleges, helping support her children’s college education.

Once the children were grown, Lucie and Ron sold their home, bought an RV, and spent five years traveling throughout the United States and Canada before eventually settling in Coto de Caza. She especially loved their trips to Quebec and the Maritime provinces. One particularly meaningful trip was to Quebec with Ron and her father in the summer of 1995. Wanting one last journey through the places and memories of his past, her father hoped to return, and Lucie was delighted to help make that trip possible. Some of her other favorite memories came from traveling with the entire family, including memorable trips to France and Italy.

Family was at the center of Lucie’s life. She loved being involved in the lives of her children, grandchildren, cousins, and extended family, and she rarely wanted to be on the sidelines of a good conversation. Being a grandmother was one of the greatest joys of her life. To her grandchildren, she was lovingly known as “Memère,” and, with a wink, sometimes “Sassy Memère.”

Lucie also cherished the friendships and community connections she built throughout her life, including those from Notre Dame Academy, her years in Claremont, the Young Married Club, and her church community. Many of those friendships endured for decades and became an important part of her extended family.

Lucie especially loved the holidays, and Christmas was her favorite. She often began planning gifts months in advance and spent days baking treats for family and friends. Her cinnamon rolls were legendary, as were her lemon cookies and apple pancakes. Christmas Eve fondue became a treasured family tradition. And if there was a family game underway, no one was going to bed until Lucie had won at least once.

She also loved sports, especially baseball and soccer, and spent time coaching both. She was an enthusiastic fan of the Dodgers and the Angels. She also enjoyed reading—especially a good Agatha Christie mystery—and, as the family would lovingly say, “pretending to sew.” She also had a fondness for the warmth and colors of Provence, which found their way into her home through tablecloths, napkins, and artwork.

Faith was an important part of Lucie’s life. She was active in the Catholic Church for many years, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector and volunteering with the food bank. Although illness limited her participation later in life, she continued attending Mass when she was able, and praying the rosary remained a meaningful and regular part of her life.

Lucie is survived by her husband of 60 years, Rénald Gregoire; her sons, Marc Gregoire (Lupe Pasillas) and Darren Gregoire; her five grandchildren, Sara Gregoire, Kaiden Gregoire, Robert Reyes, Danielle Reyes, and Nathan Gregoire; and her older brother, Roland Faucher (Patti), along with many cousins, relatives, and friends whose lives she touched.

Lucie was preceded in death by her daughter, Suzanne Gregoire (Saul Reyes, who survives Suzanne); her older sister, Armande McCleery (Thomas, who survives Armande); and her parents, Armand and Odile Faucher.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 10:15 a.m. at San Francisco Solano Catholic Church, 22082 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, followed by the Rosary at 10:45 a.m. and a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at approximately 12:30 p.m. at Ascension Cemetery, 24754 Trabuco Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630. A reception will follow the interment. A reception will follow the interment at the San Francisco Solano Catholic Church parish hall.

Memorial donations may be made in Lucie’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an organization that was meaningful to her, at stjude.org/give, or to a cancer research organization of your choice in support of continued progress toward better treatments and cures.

Lucie will be remembered for the love she poured into her family, the traditions she created, the conversations she never wanted to miss, and the countless ways she made ordinary moments feel special.