Local 128’s Nadeau spends retirement volunteering

Couple travels to Mexico to teach children, maintain orphanage

FLORENCE AND JEAN-MARIE Nadeau, a retired member of Local 128 (Toronto, Ontario), are living part-time in Mazatlan, one of Mexico’s greatest vacation destinations. Their time, however, is not spent at an exotic resort, but in volunteer work at some of Mexico’s poorest regions.

Jean-Marie and Florence Nadeau are pictured with children wearing Local 128 hats and T-shirts at the Marsh Orphanage in Acapulco, Mexico.
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From December through April each year, Jean-Marie, a retired mechanic, performs maintenance work on the Marsh Children’s Home, a former motel located in Acapulco that was donated by a caring couple to house 80 orphans ranging in age from 6 to 18 years.

His wife, Florence, a retired seamstress, spends her days teaching orphans how to sew clothing on seven sewing machines donated by her home church, the Port Elgin Missionary Church in Ontario. The children are able to clean their clothes by using two washing machines donated by members of Local 128.

For years, the Nadeaus have been helping to provide food, shelter, and clothing to people in need. They first worked as volunteers with Disaster Response Service. Based in Grand Rapids, Mich., DRS was founded by the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Working with DRS, the Nadeaus have helped clear debris, assess needs, and rebuild homes after natural disasters. Their DRS work has taken them to Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

BM-ST Jim Watson (c.) presents Local 128 hats and T-shirts to Jean-Marie and Florence Nadeau for distribution to children at the Marsh Orphanage.
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In 2005, the Nadeaus were introduced to the Mash Children’s Home. They decided to live part-time in nearby Mazatlan so they could devote part of their retirement to the orphanage. They also volunteer at the LaVina Church, providing food, water, shoes, and medical care to the poorest in the city.

While in Mexico, the Nadeaus host a number of couples in their home. Visitors join the Nadeaus several hours a day volunteering in the church’s ministries. They say the work is never hard and is very fulfilling. If you would like to help the Nadeaus, please contact them at jmfnadeau@yahoo.com.