With profound sadness we announce the passing of Frances Colleen Chartrand, our loving and devoted Mother. Fran passed early Thursday morning at Dartmouth General Hospital due to complications from a lifetime of smoking. She is survived by her sons, Christopher and his wife Nicole and Rene and his wife Lara as well as her siblings, Margie, Nita, Harold, and Dereck. Fran was born on March 1st 1955, the fourth of six brothers and sisters born to George and Mary Briand. Having three older sisters, Fran developed a great dislike for hand me down clothing, a hatred which persisted her entire life. At an early age, Fran showed an interest in travel, often hitchhiking across the province with her cousins and best friends, Marjorie and Leona Pemberton. Fran loved to travel, but she never lived anywhere outside of HRM. At the age of 15, Fran attempted to move to B.C. with her sister Nita and Nita’s husband Richard. Fran got cold feet and only made it as far west as Montreal before returning home. Fran began working at the Post Office when she was 18 and stayed with that job for 15 years until she was placed on medical leave and subsequent medical retirement. She never liked the job, but she loved the people she worked with and the friends that she made. Fran’s favourite time of the year was Christmas. She would watch Christmas movies all year round to stay in the festive spirit. Every Christmas, Fran made sure everyone had somewhere to go, a heaping plate of food, and a cup full of cheer. She often spent money that she couldn’t afford to make sure that every child with any tie to the family had a gift under the Christmas tree. She got immense joy from seeing everyone celebrating and took great pride in bringing her family together for the season. It will be at Christmas time that she will be missed the most. Fran was a great lover of her pets, cats and dogs alike. As such, in lieu of flowers please consider donations to the SPCA provincial Animal shelter in Dartmouth. A celebration of Fran’s life will be held at the A.L. Mattatall Funeral Home 217 Portland Street Dartmouth, NS B2Y1J5 at 2pm on Sunday the 17th of November 2019.
DONATIONS
In lieu of flowers
NS SPCA
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