It is with sadness the family announces the passing of our
dear Mum, Emily Saunders at the
Colchester East Hants Health Centre after a brief illness. She was
94.
Emily was born and raised in Moncton and went on to attend
Mount Allison University and the Royal Victoria Hospital School of
Nursing, training as a surgical nurse. While visiting her aunt and
uncle in New Glasgow, she met our dad. Mum was blessed to have married
the love of her life George for sixty years. They were truly best
friends and true partners in everything they did. Dad’s surgical
training began at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Boston at the Lahey
Clinic, his practice in Sackville, NB and finally in Amherst where
they raised their three boys and finally a girl! Mum was selfless in
supporting dad’s career as a surgeon and working as his Office Manager
for over twenty years. Mum was also a wonderful caregiver attending to
her own mother until her passing at age 99 3/4 years.
Mum enjoyed golf, badminton, dogs, cats, piano, cooking,
sewing, a good game of bridge with friends, spending time at their
cottage at Tidnish, critiquing a good seafood chowder (but hold the
potatoes), exercising daily, her volunteer work with the Amherst
Hospital Auxiliary entertaining and travel. Mum and Dad enjoyed their
retirement life in Port Charlotte and Sun City, Florida. They loved
their travel adventures to the Caribbean, Europe, Russia and North
America. After Dad’s passing, Mum and daughter Joan enjoyed wonderful
cruises to Alaska, the Mediterranean and East and West Caribbean. Mum
recently said if she could have changed her career choice she would
have been an architect. It was Mum who helped design their dream home
in Amherst, proudly built by their son George. Recently the gazebo in
the gardens at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre was donated
by Mum and Dad, something she was very proud of.
Dad’s hectic schedule required Mum in the early years to take
charge of raising four children (3 in diapers at once!). Mum was a
wonderful role model. Mum’s grandchildren were asked works to describe
their Nanna and the words they used – she loved her family, kind,
curious, a lady, spunky, clever, helpful, quite tenacious and earnest.
A close family friends said Mum was “always well turned
out”. She always loved a well matched outfit and even in her
nineties could pull off “a skirt above the knee.” Mum always
looked forward to her son David visiting from the USA and was happy to
have sons George and Bruce nearby.
Mum leaves behind sons George of Amherst; Bruce (Diana) of
Amherst; David (Linnea) of Gainsville, Florida; daughter Joan (Alan
Gibson) of Truro. She is also survived by ten grandchildren George V
(Ashley) of Amherst; Clair and Sarah of England; Dr. Neil Saunders
(Sarah) of Georgia; Paul Saunders of Utah; Alex Gibson (Sarah) of
Newfoundland; Angus Gibson (Rachel) of Halifax; Andrew Gibson of
Quebec; AJ of Truro; Celine of the Yukon; 10 great grandchildren,
niece Catherine Epstein (Michael) of Vancouver; nephew Jamie (Gayle)
Saunders of Halifax and dear friend Edie Purdy of
Amherst.
Mum was predeceased by her parents, Clair and Irene, husband
Dr. George Saunders; brother Robert Blackett and his wife Astrid;
sister-in-law Estelle Saunders; brother-in-law James Saunders and his
wife Jean; long time companion Eanis Collins as well as nieces Karen
and Barbara Anne and great grand daughter,
Ashley.
The family is extremely grateful for the kind, compassionate
care Mum received while living at Fergus Hall, Parkland Estates in
Truro since relocating from Amherst in 2019. You are all truly angels
on Earth! Thank you for the kindness and gentle care from the
Palliative Care team and the staff at the Colchester East Hants Health
Centre, Dr. Murray McCrossin for his years of support and care of our
dear Mum, Dr. Sarbjit Singh and VON – Amherst and
Truro.
Mum, always pragmatic and in her sensible and no nonsense way
would say – “No one lives forever” and “It’s always
good to have some younger friends”.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Jones
Family Funeral Centre, 70 Church Street in Amherst
(902-667-8777). Honoring Mum’s wishes, there will be no funeral
service. A celebration of Mum’s life will be held this summer when
hopefully family and friends can safely
gather.
Those wishing to make a donation, please consider donating to
the Cumberland Regional Health Care Foundation or the Colchester East
Hants Health Centre Foundation or a charity of your choice in memory
of our mother.
Sharing of memories and condolences may be sent to the family
by visiting the online memorial at www.jonesfamilyfuneralcentre.ca or
through the Jones Family Funeral Centre
Facebook Page.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Emily A Saunders 1927 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Amherst, Province: Nova Scotia