Parcourez la nécrologie de Fran Nunn 1949 2024 résidant dans la province Nova Scotia pour le détail des funérailles
Frances
Eleanor Nunn, «Fran», a natural-born teacher, generous
spirit, much-loved and active member of the Antigonish community, an
activist and actor, who knew the power of humour, the love of family,
and what it takes to salvage a full life from the burden of an illness
of the mind, died Thursday, July 25, 2024. She was a few weeks from
her 75th year.
Fran’s many friends knew she was bright,
funny, full of faith and caring, and could spend a long time with a
cup of tea.
As a teen,
Fran was an intelligent student who liked drama and poetry when she
was struck with mental illness. Her life changed forever, with
hospitalizations, medications, and extreme medical intervention
attempts. Those dark times didn’t stop her from achieving
her Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis Xavier University in 1970
and her Bachelor of Education degree in 1971. Or from striking out to
teach school in remote St. Anthony in Newfoundland, and later, for a
short time, in Amherst, Nova Scotia.
Her mental
illness would force her from teaching in a classroom but Fran
volunteered with Antigonish’s food bank, the Opportunity
Shop, collected for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Kidney
Foundation, Canadian Institute for the Blind, and the Canadian
Association for Community Living. She served as President of the
Schizophrenic Society of Antigonish, on the board of the Schizophrenic
Society of N.S., and received the Inspiring Lives Award from the N.S.
Mental Health Foundation. Fran studied and wrote about schizophrenia
and its stigma, once observing how the very word sounds draining, like
pouring out a glass of liquid. She gave talks to nursing students and
did media interviews about the disease, with mental health authorities
sending her across Nova Scotia to address groups. Unafraid, unabashed,
and uncommon, Fran was one of their best official spokespersons for a
misunderstood disease that can be socially crippling. She lived with
it but would not let it hold her back.
As a young
woman, always strengthened by her mother’s relentless and
unwavering support, Fran worked at the Metropolitan store in
Antigonish, and made good friends there. She studied her Catholic
faith, taking courses, and putting her podium elocution skills to work
as a church reader at St. Ninian Cathedral. Fran knew her way around a
microphone and was selected to read when there was a special occasion
like a live broadcast.
Late in life,
Fran was asked to join a new theatrical attempt at social education
around the abilities of people with mental illnesses, the Park Bench
Players. She said she would be part of the play only if it met two
conditions. It must be «funny and not preachy.»
The play, With A Little Help From My Friends — a celebration
of friendship, courage and hope — was spiked with hilarious
lines and moving stories of real people living with mental health
challenges. Written and directed by Jim Mulcahy, with mental
healthcare professionals, Maria Van Vonderen and Verna MacDonald as
manager and executive producer, the play was a powerhouse. In the role
of Fabulous Fran the Fortune Teller, Fran, with the rest of the troupe
(Stacey Septon, Patrick Chisholm, Mike Martell, Louise Hall and
Catherine Tetu) toured the province for over nine years, and did over
100 shows at schools, universities, public auditoriums, groups of
health care professionals, conferences, and audiences that ranged from
police to prisoners. Calling themselves ‘stigma
busters’, the close-knit group won multiple local and two
national awards, including, in the fall of 2012, Psycho-Social
Rehabilitation Canada’s national award of excellence,
presented to the cast in Vancouver following a special performance of
the play and, in 2013, the Canadian College of Health Leaders Quality
of Life Award. The production was also awarded, in 2012, the GASHA
Community Health Advocacy Award from the Guysborough, Antigonish,
Strait Health Authority, and was also identified by Accreditation
Canada as a «model of best practice» for Canadian healthcare
services.
Fran was a
somewhat stunned star of stage, surprised by young people seeking her
hugs and autograph after the shows, and grateful theatre-goers leaving
in tears. Reviews were off the charts. The troupe was summoned to
bring their message of social acceptance and understanding to
political leaders at Province House in Halifax. The town of Antigonish
inaugurated an official Park Bench Players public bench in front of
the town’s Main Street library, a recognition that reached
the floor of the House of Commons. Fran had become the teacher she had
always wanted to be.
An amusing
amalgam of contradictions, Fran was known for her injections of wit,
but also hilarious, unplanned language flops we lovingly called
‘Fran-isms’; both bringing gales of laughter from
her ‘audience’ of friends and family. Sometimes
slow, sometimes stubborn, hard to wake and often late, Fran had her
own pace. She could quote Shakespeare from her university days but
struggled to use a phone or set an alarm clock. She could amuse even
when it wasn’t intended, including herself. Empathetic and
caring, but not always easy, Fran’s sweet smile could turn
in an instant if she felt crossed. Usually a cup of tea and a sleep
would cure that.
She created a
life for herself that included her loving partner, John, his son,
daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, her mother, Nora, seven siblings
and her in-laws. Fran doted on her nieces and nephews with a
grandmotherly-type affection. She embraced birthdays and Christmas
with generous gusto, giving a shiny gift she really couldn’t
afford or something she found at a used goods sale that she thought
you would like; both given with great love and spirit. Those grown and
far away would get a phone call from Fran on their birthday, well into
their 30’s.
Fran grabbed
onto life, such as it was for her, and refused to let go, even
inquiring if she could one day leave her brain to science, to better
study the illness it contained and maybe find a cure. Fran
was one of a kind and will be missed by
many.
Fran is
survived by her partner, Johnny Miller, with his son, Zach
(Vanessa), and his grandsons, Joseph and Jack; her siblings, Nancy
Nunn Stubbert (Clary Stubbert); Mary
Lou Nunn Brenton (Gordon Brenton); Noreen Nunn
(Lloyd Jewkes); Bruce Nunn (Tracy Barron); Jennifer Nunn (Paul
Boyle); sister-in-law Cathy Nunn; and many nieces and
nephews; and beloved cousins and friends.
She is
predeceased by her parents J. Clyde Nunn and Nora (McKenna)
Nunn; her brothers, Jim Nunn and Clyde Nunn Jr., and nephew,
Gordie Pat Brenton.
Visitation
will be held from 2 – 4pm and 7-9pm on Monday, July 29, 2024 in C.L.
Curry Funeral Home, 135 College Street, Antigonish. Funeral Mass will
be held Tuesday, July 30, at 11:00am in St. Ninian Cathedral with Rev.
Danny MacLennan presiding. Burial in the parish
cemetery.
In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made to Hope For Mental Health (www.hope4mentalhealth.ca
).
Online
condolences: www.clcurry.com
1949 2024
Décès pour la Ville Antigonish, Province Nova Scotia
avis deces Fran Nunn 1949 2024
nécrologie Fran Nunn 1949 2024
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Fran Nunn 1949 2024 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.