Lynn’s Obituary
MACDERMID CURRY, Lynn Christine
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Tom Curry’s wonderful wife and our sister, Lynn MacDermid, of Kings Head, Pictou County on August 14, 2020 at the VG Site, QEII Hospital, Halifax with her loving husband by her side.
Lynn was born in New Glasgow on June 24, 1948 and was the middle daughter of the late John and Phyllis (Bannerman) MacDermid, Kenzieville, Pictou County.
Lynn and her sisters attended a one-room school in Kenzieville and then attended East Pictou Rural High School. When the girls were in their later teens, their mother decided to further her education. Lynn graduated from East Pictou Rural High School in 1966. That September Lynn and her mother enrolled in the Commercial Program at East Pictou and Lynn was proud to receive her Commercial diploma alongside her mother in 1967. From there Lynn went to work while her mother continued with her education, eventually becoming a schoolteacher.
Tom and Lynn met in the summer of 1987. After 13 years together, Tom saw the light and realized that he could not let this ideal lady be lost to someone else. They were married on November 2, 2000. They briefly resided in New Glasgow while their eventual retirement home was being renovated in Kings Head. Here Lynn spent her retirement years overlooking the beautiful Merigomish Harbour.
Lynn retired in 2002. She worked for 36 years for the Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education (formerly Pictou School Board) spending most of those years at Thorburn Consolidated School, Thorburn. She was very dedicated to her chosen profession and the students of Thorburn Consolidated School. Lynn cared for all the students and met all challenges head-on, ensuring they got on the right buses, were properly clothed and fed and, above all, were respected.
She was a loving and devoted wife and sister. Lynn was a true gentlewoman, with a beguiling smile. She was a hardworking, gentle, a strong-willed lady who cherished time spent with family and friends. Lynn loved to have a hearty laugh with both friends and family. She had a strong independent spirit, a great sense of humour, with a quick wit and retort. Lynn will forever be remembered as a selfless, kind-hearted sister, wife, and friend and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.
Lynn was a homebody. She enjoyed the simple things of life: good friends, family visits, walks at the beach, a good joke or story. While her cancer limited her travels afar, she planned and enjoyed taking trips throughout the Atlantic Provinces. Lynn made sure her hummingbird feeder was up every spring so she could enjoy watching her hummingbirds. Lynn took pride in everything she did whether it was creating beautiful pots of geraniums, begonias and dipladenias or tastefully decorating her home with seasonal decorations, including beautiful decorated Christmas trees.
Although her cancer prevented her from participating in many sports, Lynn was an avid sports fan following men’s and women’s curling and golf. She was a former member of the Abercrombie Country Club. Lynn enjoyed reading, a good game of cards, Sudoku, crossword puzzles, listening to fiddle, Scottish and other music. She was a former clogger (dancing).
Lynn was a former member of First Presbyterian Church, New Glasgow and most recently attended Little Harbour Presbyterian Church, Little Harbour. She was a woman of faith and devoted her life to her family and friends.
Lynn was diagnosed in 2002 with Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia (WM), a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, long before most of today’s therapies were available. She endured several courses of standard chemotherapy over the next dozen years, before being the first person in Canada to participate in the Ibrutinib Clinical Trial in the summer of 2014. Two years later her WM transformed to Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, which was successfully treated with R-CHOP chemotherapy. On June 15, 2020 Lynn was hospitalized at the Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow. Eight days later she was transferred to the Hematology Floor of the VG Site, QEII where, 60 days later, she passed away as a result of an aggressive form of Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.
Lynn was an original member of the Atlantic Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia Support Group. Lynn and Tom were devoted and active members, driving from New Glasgow to support group meetings whenever Lynn’s health permitted.
The family would like to thank family doctors Dr. Patricia Craig and Dr. Aulayne Jeans-Mingo. A special thanks to Dr. Darrell White, Hematologist, and all the medical staff of the Medical Day Unit, Victoria General Building, QEII Hospital, Oncology and the medical staff of the 8a floor Hematology, Centennial Building, QEII for their professional care and support during Lynn’s 18 years of illnesses. The following health care providers deserve special mention during her cancer journey: Trisha, Sandra, Charlene, Carlene, (Medical Day Unit staff) and (8a floor Hematology staff) Shannon Greek, NP; Dr. Sue Robinson; Dr. Curtis; nursing students, Taylor and Kelsey; CTA Brenda and registered nurses: Ana, Hailey, Isabel, Emily, Vivian, Emily, Heather, Shelby, Eric, Jenn and Lauren. We wish to thank the many other team members and support staff who were there for Lynn.
Lynn is survived by her loving and supportive husband, Tom; sisters Joanne (Jim) Misener, Halifax; Cheryl (Eldon) Weeks, Montague Gold Mines; mother-in-law, Cecilia Curry, Riverton; aunts, Christine Self and Nova Bannerman; sisters-in-law, Dr. Lois Curry, Carol Ann Kasaboski, Margaret Curry Phoenix and Angela Curry; nieces, Lisa, Kathryn, Brooke, Michelle, Paige and Emily; nephews, Chris, Mark, Ryan and Bradley; many cousins.
Besides her parents, Lynn was predeceased by aunts, Ruth MacDermid and Maye Bannerman; uncles, Iver MacDermid and Donald Bannerman.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to P. & K. MacDonald Funeral Home Limited, New Glasgow. Cremation has taken place. At Lynn’s request, given COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no visitation. Her public funeral service will be held outside on the grounds of the Barney’s River Presbyterian Church, Kenzieville, on Friday, August 28, 2020 at 2:00 p.m., with Rev. Lorne MacLeod officiating, assisted by Rev. Dr. P.A. (Sandy) McDonald with interment to follow in Kenzieville Cemetery. As per NSHA COVID-19 regulations, masks and social distancing will be required. No seating will be provided, if required, please bring your own chair. Although Lynn would love for us to gather for a reception following the service, she would not want lives jeopardized due to the COVID-19 threat, therefore there will be no reception.
Lynn was a wonderful example of quiet strength and courage. She will be remembered as a caring and compassionate wife, sister and friend. “Gone is the face we love so dear, silent is the voice we loved to hear, too far away for sight or speech, but not too far gone for thought to reach.” Lynn, you were a beautiful person and we are sad that you left us. Know that we will hold our treasured memories of you in our hearts forever. Your loving husband, Tom, and sisters, Joanne and Cheryl.
Family flowers only. Donations may be made in Lynn’s memory to the Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation of Canada or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. (Please click on the underlined to donate online.)
Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lynn Christine MacDermid June 24 1948 August 14 2020..
p and k macdonald funeral home
Death notice for the town of: New-Glasgow, Province: Nova Scotia