It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Lucy Winifred Bath, cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and true friend to many. Lucy was an amazing woman. Her kindness, selflessness, and infinite patience were evident in everything she did; her courage and determination shone through until the very end.
The qualities that defined Lucy were instilled in her at an early age. Having lost her father when she was young (1958), her beloved mother, affectionately known as Nanny Wells, was her rock and her teacher. She was loved, and learned to love, without measure, gaining a work ethic, resilience, and strength that would last her a lifetime. She, in turn, passed those qualities on to her amazing and much-loved daughters – Joanne and Janice – and then on to her grandchildren.
In her early years, Lucy attended St. Hilda’s School in Bay L’Argent. She had a very close relationship with all her siblings and growing up, she even shared a room and bed with her darling sister, Judy. Later in life, she was proud to complete her upgrading and achieved her grade 12 diploma.
Lucy met the love of her life and partner of 50 years, Clyde Bath, in Marystown in 1970. At that time, Clyde was working at the fish plant and Lucy was babysitting. That year, they moved to Toronto to seek a better life for themselves and were married there in 1971. They welcomed their first born, Janice, later that year. While in the big city, Clyde worked for YKK while Lucy worked for CCM and Laura Secord, which started a life-long love affair with chocolate. Lucy and Clyde’s second daughter, Joanne, was born in 1978 and shortly afterwards, the Bath family returned to Newfoundland to raise their family in La Scie.
Lucy was planning on going to nursing school in 1995. Unfortunately, life had other plans for her when Clyde had a stroke while away at sea. Lucy, as she always did, rose to the challenge and devoted herself to taking care of her loved ones. Lucy was employed for many years in the local fish plant, where she worked with her best friend, Joan. Aside from her hard work outside of the home, Lucy was still a devoted wife and mother, cooking delicious food, baking mouth-watering bread, picking blueberries, and bravely hunting moose which provided months of nourishment for family and friends.
Lucy was always heavily involved in her church and her community. As a leader in the church, she mentored many in the Kid’s Klub and cared deeply about her church family. She was always the first to volunteer to help a family in need or participate in community events, all in the name of the greater good.
After being diagnosed with cancer early in 2020, Lucy and Clyde moved to Halifax to stay with their daughter, Joanne, to undergo treatment at the nearby QEII hospital. Throughout her time in Halifax, she remained positive, no matter the circumstances, and never lost her sense of humour. Her courage in fighting cancer never wavered. When presented with a difficult choice, her answer was always the same: a resolute “yes” to moving ahead with whatever treatment modern medicine could offer; throughout it all, her faith stood strong. Lucy never questioned God’s plan for her, never blamed anyone or anything for her illness, and, when asked how she felt about her fight, she would always reply: “Just as well me as someone else”. That statement perfectly embodied her spirit. Even when her strength waned over the course of her many treatments and trips to the hospital, she was still willing to put others before herself.
Lucy’s quiet nature belied a sharp wit, wry sense of humour, and a fierce loyalty to her family and friends. Small but mighty, anyone that knew her understood not to mess with Mama Bath. She was exceptionally intuitive, intelligent, and had an uncanny sense for knowing when those around her needed support. She carried herself with poise and dignity and it was a rare occurrence to see Lucy in anything but her Sunday best. Lucy thought the world of her family and lived to take care of her loved ones. She was incredibly proud of her daughters and what they had become and was beyond devoted to her grandchildren. Life was never easy for Lucy Bath, but she never complained, rarely questioned, and thanked God every day for what she had.
Lucy is predeceased by her parents – James & Rebecca (Hatch) Wells; parents-in-law – Lewis & Emma (Rogers) Bath; son-in-law – Jeff Ryan; sister – Bride (Wells) Griffiths (John); brother – Frank Wells (Velma); siblings-in-law – Ford Bath, Mary Bath, Tom Bath, Edgar Bath, Pat Whittle, Sam Murrin, Ron Clarke and Ray Earle as well as very special friends – Joan Coombs and Walt and Ann Rogers.
Left to cherish their beautiful life together is her husband of 49 years – Clyde Bath, La Scie, NL; children – Joanne Bath (Andy), Halifax, NS and Janice Mouland (Jamie), La Scie, NL; grandchildren – Kylie, Kate & Arielle, along with the many foster children who called her nanny; siblings – Carmie Oake (Bram), Clyde Wells (Janet), Judy Whittle, Maisie Matterface (Dawson), Aubrey Wells (Helen), David Hatch (Pauline), Dorothy Pryor (Sam) and Suzie; siblings-in-law – Madeline Matthews (Robert), Boyce Bath (Dale), Sadie Earle, Helen Clarke, Jean Keats (Reg) and Hazel; siblings in-law – Sandra Ward (Cecil) and Julie Bath (Scott) as well as an incredibly large circle of nieces, nephews, extended family, church family and friends in Newfoundland along with new friends and family in Nova Scotia.
The Bath Family extends a warm welcome to all those who wish to pay tribute to Lucy. Public Visitation will take place at Bethel Pentecostal Church, La Scie, NL on Sunday, January 10th, 2021 from 2:00-4:00PM and 7:00-9:00PM. Pastor Jamie and Angela Payne, assisted by Pastor Hurid and Phyllis Bennett, will conduct a Service of Home-Going and Celebration at Bethel Pentecostal Church, La Scie, NL on Monday, January 11th, 2021 at 1:00PM. Due to the global pandemic, the service will be limited to immediate family and invited guests. Interment will follow at Bethel Pentecostal Cemetery, La Scie, NL.
Additionally, a celebration of life will be held later this year so all family and friends can gather to honour Lucy’s memory with Clyde, Janice & Joanne.
As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, monetary gifts may be made in Lucy’s memory to support funeral costs and ongoing support for Clyde via e-transfer to joanne_bath@hotmail.com or by clicking here: www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-lucy-helping-clyde?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
We extend our hearts, in full of gratitude, to Drs. Forward, Fraga, Jones, Hadid, Gharavi, and the compassionate nurses and care team of 8A and 3A at the QEII Health Centre VG site in Halifax, NS, for their attentive care and compassionate, loving support. Thank you to all our family and friends who have supported Lucy, and us, this past year, as she battled cancer.
In Lucy’s honour, be a little extra kind, patient and caring to each other today and every day; we could all stand to be a little more like Lucy.
Love to you all. Xo
Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Foster Funeral Home, 22 Main Street, Baie Verte, NL.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lucy Winifred Wells Bath January 5th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Baie Verte, Province: T-N