When
you first meet her, Angele Mrochek strikes you as an attractive, healthy
30-year old mother with a warm smile. In the photo to the right, she is
standing underneath the engagement photo she took with her husband, J.P.
The two met when she was only 16 and have been married for ten years (as
of the date of this article in January 2006).
Angele and J.P. have three boys who attend Ecole Notre Dame School in
Hanmer. Mathieu is in Grade 5; Martin is in Grade 3; and Miguel is in S.K.
Ironically, both Angele and J.P. also attended that very same Ecole Notre
Dame School when they were in elementary school. Many people will remember
her from her maiden name, Angele Lapointe.
Angele obtained her diploma in Sign Language Communication from Collage
Boreal and appeared headed for a very promising career in this field. It
was then that Angele and J.P. made a very important decision. Instead of
pursuing a career in sign language, Angele decided to pursue a much more
challenging, and far more important career - that of being a full-time
homemaker and mother. She and J.P. meant that it would mean sacrificing
some of the "material" things that a second job could provide,
but they felt fortunate enough to be in a position where they could
"make it" on one salary and decided that it was more important
for their children to have a mom at home.
Angele then took it one step further and decided to become totally
involved with her childrens' school. While they were at St. Michel School,
Angele chaired the annual "Family Day" celebrations which were
always the big event of the year. When St. Michel closed to make room for
the St. Anne School students who are there now, she organized the
"Closing Day Celebrations". Now that her children attend Ecole
Notre Dame, she is in her 2nd year as President of the Parent Teacher
Association and is at the school "just about every day" taking
part in some form of function or activity.
She organized the Annual Christmas Food Drive which was held at Neil's
Your Independent Grocers on December 17, 2005, and is taking care of the
Winter Carnival which is scheduled for February 10, 2006.
When asked why she is so involved, she didn't hesitate with the answer,
"I love doing this! It is so great to be able to go to the school
every day and be active. J.P. and I knew that we were giving up a lot when
I chose this kind of life over employment outside the home, but we've also
gained so much more from the decision. It means so much to my children for
me to be available when they go to school; when they come home; when they
are sick; and when they are doing special things at school. Some days I
wonder what it would be like to be able to afford more material things,
but there is nothing I could buy that would give me the same satisfaction
I have doing what I am doing with my life right now."
Angele encourages more parents and grandparents to get involved with
their schools. Volunteers can add so much to the atmosphere of the
community school and can really provide an excellent example for all of
the children at the school.
We congratulate Angele, and J.P. for supporting her in her decision to
provide an invaluable contribution, not only to her children; not only to
the children of Ecole Notre Dame; but also to the entire community of
Valley East.
