Friends remember Comeau as quiet, happy and 'always smiling'

OTTAWA — Monday's revelations that a top military commander is now charged with the murder of Marie-France Comeau has sparked shock and relief from friends of the 38-year-old corporal and Canadian Forces Base Trenton flight attendant.

Comeau, whose body was found on Nov. 25, had been in the military for 12 years and had been at 437 Squadron for six months before her death, media reports said.

The arrest is good news, said Alain Plante, her former common-law partner of more than four years.

"I'll miss her for the rest of my life," he said. "She was an angel, a flower, and even though we were not together, I could never speak against her, she's a lovely person."

Plante said that while shopping was one of Comeau's hobbies, "she loved her job, that's for sure."

He said he last spoke with Comeau on Nov. 22. They talked on the telephone when she got back from an international assignment: a working visit to India by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"She told me that the trip was very busy but she enjoyed her time there," he said.

Ellen Wood, who worked with Comeau for six months as a flight attendant at CFB Trenton, described her as a "wonderful person who was always smiling."

"She was fun, she was friendly. Everybody liked her," said Wood.

Thomas Warren, a private based at CFB Trenton, trained under Comeau and knew her for about a year.

"She was one of the happiest people I have ever known in my life," he said.

Carey Prytuliak, who also worked with Comeau at CFB Trenton, described her as "very sweet and generous" and said "everybody loved her."

Master Cpl. Pierre Calve said he met Comeau in Germany in 1989. The last time he saw her was on a plane bound for Afghanistan in April 2009.

"She was an angel, a very nice person, always happy and with a wonderful smile," he said.

Chanci MacKenzie, a neighbour who lived next door to Comeau, said she didn't know Comeau very well and that she was quiet and kept to herself.

However, MacKenzie said anytime she did encounter her, Comeau was "extremely kind and sweet."

MacKenzie said she has spoken to friends of Comeau who described her as "awesome, fun-loving and outgoing."

A Facebook memorial page for Comeau described her as "charming, intelligent, sparkly, bubbly, generous, beautiful, adorable, funny, reliable, hard-working."

"Words are not sufficient to describe the amazing person Marie-France Comeau is and always will be," the description continued.

News of Williams' arrest sparked another fury of messages from relieved friends, family and even strangers.

Retired military soldier Tim Clarke wrote: "Marie Comeau — may you now Rest in Peace; to the Family & Friends I'm so sorry for your terrible loss."

In an email to Canwest News Service, Clarke explained that he was never posted to Trenton or knew Comeau but wanted to show his support for a fallen soldier.

"Other then that, I have no comment; a needless, terrible tragedy for all victims and their families and friends!" he said.

Comeau's family could not immediately be reached for comment.