Lynn Whalen, the rock of the
Whalen family, died on Monday, January 18 at The Moncton Hospital,
three years after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was
64.
Lynn was known for her wonderful
smile, calm spirit, gentle demeanour, and deep love for her family and
friends.
Lynn was born in Fredericton on
July 10, 1956, the second child of Donald and Patricia (Carle)
Johnson. She grew up in a musical home with her sisters Kathy and Joy,
and very much embodied the quiet, even-tempered middle child. She
graduated from Fredericton High School in 1974 then went on to
graduate from the Dr. Everett Chalmers School of Radiologic Technology
in 1977. Soon after, she accepted a job at The Moncton Hospital. She
loved her job as an X-ray technician and made lifelong friendships
with her many co-workers in the
department.
While attending an event at a
local curling club, Lynn met a man who was too nervous to ask her to
dance — so she asked him. Eighteen months later she married
Bill, the love of her life, on September 22, 1984. Two years later,
Lynn accomplished what she felt she was always meant to do: she became
a mother.
They welcomed three children
— Katie, Matthew and Julia — while living on Queen
Mary Road. Bill’s job soon took them to Quispamsis where the
family stayed for two years, making great friends along the way. They
moved back to Moncton in 1994 to what is now known as the Whalen
house.
Lynn made the difficult decision
to not return to her job at the hospital and instead stay home to
raise her kids. She drove them to and from every practice, game,
recital and everything in between; baked treats for the kids and their
friends; and volunteered at Birchmount School both in the library as
well as teaching students how to write in cursive. Lynn was a constant
in her children’s lives and they are so grateful for the
time she spent with them.
Lynn and Bill were a dedicated
team for more than 36 years. They loved spending time together,
whether it was staying at charming B&Bs in Maine and New
Hampshire or watching Red Sox games at home on the couch. Lynn
especially loved their long drives in the
Mini.
Lynn
is survived by her beloved husband, Bill, and her three children:
Kate, Matt and Julia (Jeremy). She will be dearly missed by her sister
Kathy Watt (Murray), sisters-in-law Maureen Merrill (Steve) and Jane
Sunderland, nieces and nephews David Watt (Amy), Amy Parrill (Mark),
Kim Wilson (Wayne), Todd Merrill, Jeff Sunderland (Cara), Marsha
Johnston (Justin), Kelly Thompson (Steve) and Geoff and Ryan Burgoyne,
as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins, grand-nieces and nephews
and many dear friends.
She
was predeceased by her parents, Don and Pat, and her sister
Joy.
The family would like
to thank the staff at The Moncton Hospital, in particular the Oncology
and Palliative Care Units, the Dr. Sheldon Rubin Oncology Clinic, the
Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital and the New Brunswick
Extra-Mural Program for their dedicated care over the last three
years. Special thanks to Drs. Igoe, Richard, Comeau and Harb for their
kindness and care of Lynn.
A Service to Celebrate Lynn’s
Life will be held from St. John’s United Church (75 Alma St. Moncton)
on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 2:00 pm with The Rev. Aaron Billard
leading the Celebration. Covid-19 guidelines will be
respected and wearing a mask is mandatory at the church.
Reception to follow at Delta Hotels Beausejour, 750 Main
St..
Arrangements under the
professional care of Fergusons Funeral Home, 1657 Mountain Road,
Moncton (858-1995).
Lynn’s greatest joy in
life was becoming a mother to her three beautiful children. In this
spirit, donations can be made to the Lynn Whalen Memorial Endowment
Fund, through the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation (friendsfoundation), in
support of new mothers and their babies who need a little extra help
while they are at The Moncton Hospital.
Visit
FriendsFoundation.ca/Donate and choose Lynn Whalen Memorial Endowment
Fund in the dropdown box. Online condolences for the family can be
shared at
www.fergusonsfuneralhome.com
2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Lynn Whalen 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Moncton, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick