 It did not last and Rita separated from Jacques' father — Jacques was eventually raised by his maternal Grandmother.At age 19, while working at a restaurant in mid-town Montreal, a patron had seen some of the sketches she was working on when business became quiet and was struck by her talent.Practically insisting she enrol in the École des Beaux-Arts (of which Rita had never heard), he picked her up at home, took her to the school and stood at the bottom of the steps ensuring she entered, then continued to stand there long enough for her to be asked if she was enrolling – the answer was "Yes".