Passed peacefully away on February 13, 2019 after a long period of failing health but, as she had wanted, in her own home and surrounded by her family, Frances M. (Fran) Dearin, née Merner, in her 95th year. Her beloved husband, Charles, predeceased her in 1981, as did three of her children, Susan Marie (1955), Paul (1954 – 2007), and John (1957 – 2013), and her sister/brother-in-law and dear friends Don and Margaret Moores.
Born in 1924 in St. John’s to Patrick and Agnes (Kavanagh) Merner, Fran was the eldest of nine children, growing up in the city’s west end where she attended and graduated from St. Patrick’s School. She worked before her marriage at the Bank of Montreal on Water St., a job she left in 1951 to start a family with Charl. During their early marriage, Charlie and Fran discovered a love of travel through the many work-related excursions they took together and on which they met many life-long friends. They also enjoyed their large circle of friends and neighbours here and the activities they engaged in as supporters of the then-new Mary Queen of Peace parish.
Once her children were all settled in school, Fran returned to a banking career, this time with CIBC, from which she retired on her 65th birthday. The next phase of her life was filled with travel, with her hobbies of knitting, sewing, and gardening, at all of which she was wonderfully gifted, and with spending time with her children and grandchildren. She spent her eighties and nineties carving an amazing garden from a barren lot, frequently on her knees with a hand spade. Her flowers continued to give her great joy all through her last summer, though in recent years she bemoaned her inability to get down and pull out the ugly weeds! Her family and most of their good friends will always remember her through the wonderful Christmas elves, Santas, nativities, and carolers she crafted over many years as gifts, along with the beautiful sweaters we all cherish. She was an indefatigable shopper and not infrequently exhausted her daughters on fondly-remembered shopping sprees, in places far and wide. Her happiest times were when all her family could be present for some feast, and, particularly at Christmas, chaos was her bliss.
Leaving behind to miss terribly their wonderful mother and dear friend are her daughters Fran (Paulette Sourisseau) of Darlings Island, NB, Sue, Marg (Brian Scott), of St. John’s, and Leah (Jim Rodger) of Torbay, her son Charles (Dianne) of Pasadena, her daughter-in-law Sandy Clarke-Dearin of Calgary, and the grandchildren who brought her such joy: Jonathan (Diana White & great-grandchild Sophie) and Sarah Martin; Colin (Laurence Fecteau), Katy (Brandon Green), and Ian (Becca Walker) Scott; Ewan, Andrew, and David Rodger; Bruce, Angela, and Tammy Dearin; Maree and Liam Dearin, along with her dear nephews Jim (Ann Marie) and Paul (Sharon) Moores. Her family would like to thank the professional women who brought such compassion and security to all of us in Mom’s final months: Suzanne Condon, NP, the Palliative Care Team, and Ashley Brocklehurst, her care worker.
Cremation has taken place. The family will be receiving visitors at Carnell’s Funeral Home, 329 Freshwater Road from 2-9 p.m. on Sunday, February 17th. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, February 18th, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. from Mary Queen of Peace Church, Torbay Rd. Inurnment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Flowers gratefully accepted or donations in her memory may be made to the Palliative Care Unit, L. A. Miller Centre. To send a message of condolence please visit www.carnells.com.
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
Mary Elizabeth Frye
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Frances Fran Mary Dearin Nee Merner October 6 1924 to February 13 2019..
Death notice for the town of: St-John’s, Province: T-N