Parcourez la nécrologie de Jean Lorraine Bruneau 2025 résidant dans la province T-N pour le détail des funérailles
Jean Lorraine Bruneau Obituary
Jean Lorraine (McInnis) Bruneau Born March 2nd 1936 passed peacefully away May 5, 2025. She is predeceased by her Husband Angus Andrew Bruneau, her parents James David Mcinnis and Laura Janet (Chisholm), her brother Donald McInnis and sister Shirley (Secor), Daughter in-law Meridith Marks and grand-daughter Hayley Marks Bruneau. Leaving to mourn her three sons Peter, Ian and Stephen, Daughters-in-law Kathy Keogh, Jill (Squires) and Mary (Murphy) and grand-children David, Laura, Alexander, Timothy and Samantha and step-grandchildren Andrea and Mark. Jean is also mourned by Sisters-in-law Grace (Bruneau) and Janet (Bruneau) and many other family members spread far and wide in both the McInnis and Bruneau families.
Jean was born in New Glasgow Nova Scotia and through her school-aged years her family spent time in Yarmouth, Montreal, Winnipeg and Toronto. She studied nursing at Wellesley Hospital in Toronto and when nearing graduation she was introduced to Angus by Angus’ sister Janet. Jean and Angus married in May 1959 and not long after set sail for London England where they were to spend some of the most formative years of their lives. Returning in 1962 with two small boys and a few dollars, Jean and Angus began building a life in Waterloo Ontario where Angus joined the new Faculty of Engineering. In a remarkably bold move in 1968, Jean, Angus and now three little boys left everything behind to forge another new life in St John’s Newfoundland.
From the very beginning Jean was a person who got involved. Introduced to the YWCA in the late 60’s, her involvement eventually led to Jean becoming the president and life-long supporter of the Y in St John’s and nationally. A natural empathy for innocent victims of war and poverty led to her chairing the UNICEF Halloween campaign and making another life-long commitment to support that organization. This pattern was to continue for many years to come.
Through the 1980s and 90’s Jean’s career matured into a form of professional volunteerism as she was to become a director and Board Chair of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, MUN Botanical Gardens and the College of Trades and Technology. She became heavily involved in the General Hospital Health Care Foundation, and was honored to be the first non-lawyer to serve on the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. Jean and Angus were active members of St David’s Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth Avenue, leading the youth group and later becoming involved in many aspects of church life. They were also deeply involved in the Festival 500 choral celebration and were great supporters of choral music, arts and education in the Province. Jean, a voracious reader, sponsored the annual Newfoundland and Labrador Writer’s Alliance Children’s/Young Adult Literature award. In later years she drove for Meals On Wheels and became a pioneer of recycling, unabashedly collecting other’s discards.
Jean was a brave woman. She drove a Ford Econoline van through the 70’s taking heaps of boys to practices and tournaments. She travelled extensively in her volunteer roll and essentially thrived in a man’s world without surrendering her dignity or abandoning her family. She quietly did laundry and had the fridge stocked with nutritious foods, was a good cook and could sew well. Although she didn’t seem to relish these domestic tasks she did them all well and did not complain. In the wake of receiving an honorary degree from Memorial University for her many contributions to society Jean was interviewed and was asked what were her greatest passions and possessions. She said she was most passionate about her family, admired her husband more than anyone and regarded family photographs as her most prized possessions.
Jean wasn’t perfect and didn’t set herself up for that. She may have lived with some regrets as we believe she was held back in her earlier years by traditional expectations. But her capacity to do great things fortunately fell upon fertile ground in Newfoundland. Together with Husband Angus they thrived, and always felt fortunate having received more than they gave despite being very generous. Rejecting apathy and inaction she lived by the ethic that “to whom much is given – much is expected”. And to that we respond with Matthew 25:23 “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
The family are particularly grateful for the excellent support and care provided by neighbors, health care providers, personal care attendants and others over the years of Jean’s decline. For the last five years April and Shirley Hart have provided tender loving care for Jean – were by her side through to the end of her days. We are deeply grateful to them for this gift to Jean and to the family. In addition the care of Carol-Ann Dale, Robert Marshall, Marie and Harold Skinner and others through the years have been greatly appreciated. We have also been blessed to have excellent care from health care professionals, Drs., Heidi Carew, Susan Mercer, and Roger Butler, Nurses April Adams, Trina Snook, Pam Hunt and many others.
Visitation will take place at Barrett’s Funeral Home, 328 Hamilton Avenue, on Thursday May 8th, from 1pm-4pm and 6pm-9pm. A funeral service will be held at St David’s Church, 98 Elizabeth Ave, on Friday May 9th at 11am with a reception to follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Bridges to Hope food bank.
For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed and the link can be found here as well as on the main page of the Barrett’s website.
2025
Décès pour la Ville St-John’s, Province T-N
avis deces Jean Lorraine Bruneau 2025
nécrologie Jean Lorraine Bruneau 2025
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