Eleanor Fraser
Eleanor Marjorie (Fox)
Fraser
March 23, 1920
– April 23, 2019
Everything about Eleanor Fox-Fraser’s life can be
found in 3 simple phrases: dedication to family, the importance of
friendships and engagement in
community.
From
her early years (Born 1920) in Springhill NS, as the only child of the
late Harry Fox and Frances Hawker-Fox, our mother set forth on HER
path. She was active at an early age in helping her
parents, as only a child can, to ‘run’ the bakery
and general store that proudly served the needs of this historical
coal mining community. She married her childhood sweetheart, Herb
Fraser. After Dad wrapped up his service in WWII, they embarked on
their life journey together.
Communities:
From Springhill to Bridgewater to New Glasgow, these communities held
a very special place in our mother’s
heart. She graduated from Mt. A, worked at RBC and
Dominion Coal Company in Springhill, then traded hats and worked in a
radio station in Bridgewater before their children were
born. She devoted herself to her family through the
early years of their childhood while feeding her social spirit
participating in gatherings of all her newfound friends in this
beautiful south shore community. In New Glasgow, she became actively
involved in the Heather Figure Skating Club, the Ceilidh
Girls’ Pipe Band, First United Baptist Church and the
Central NS Women’s PC organization. She returned to
university (St. FX) in 1967 and re-entered the workforce in 1968 to
teach at Pictou Academy. During this time, at the
urging of her very close friend Elsie Locke, she joined the legion of
community members who brought the YM/YWCA to New Glasgow. She remained
closely associated with the Pictou County Y’s Menettes
(Pictou County Women’s Service Org) until she
passed. At 60, she left Pictou Academy, once again
changing hats in 1982 to become the first woman, as we recall, to
serve on the previous all male town council of New Glasgow. She left
council after two terms having accomplished another first, that of
first female Deputy Mayor in her second term. She fully lived and
loved every moment of her service. She was honored numerous times in
her life for her devotion to community, yet it was the essence of
participating and contributing to something bigger than herself that
was her treasured reward. Mom moved at the young age of 96 to the
geographical location of Alberta, but her heart forever remained in
Nova Scotia.
Friends:
Too many to list here but we remember each and every name as our
mother kept these memories foremost in her conversation until her
passing. From childhood friends and their children,
to neighbors and their children, colleagues, former students,
companions and aides, her children’s and
grandchildren’s friends, the errant traveler who just
happened to cross paths with our mother (think Airstream trailer
convoys in the parking lot of the New Glasgow Stadium) we salute you!
Our memories would be dim if not for you and the many contributions
you made to her world.
Family:
She has now entered the community of heaven to stand beside family and
dear friends already there; Herb, daughter, Patricia, sister-in-law,
Kay will be at her side as well as her cherished parents. Undoubtedly,
as in life, she will have much to talk about. On
this earth, her children, Harry (Sharon) and Diane (Barry),
grandchildren, Luke, Ben, Jake (CJ), Courtney, Chad, Jim (Christa) and
their children, especially the blessed great-grandchildren, Margaret
Eleanor (Kit) and Acadia Jane (Cady), cousin, Fred Hawker and the
MacCallums will always remember their mother, nannie, cousin, friend
and continue the conversations that she held so dear.
Visitation
6-8 pm Wednesday, May 1, in the R.H. Porter Funeral Home, 55 Almont
Ave., New Glasgow. Funeral service 11 am Thursday, May 2, in First
United Baptist Church, New Glasgow, with Rev. Dr. Morley Shaw
officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Springhill.
Donations in her memory may be made to a charity of
choice.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Eleanor Fraser 2019..
Décès pour la Ville: New-Glasgow, Province: Nova Scotia