Frances Elizabeth McDonah

Fran was the beloved wife of sixty-one years to Roland and treasured matriarch to her family of nine children, twenty-two grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She was also a devoted sister, favoured aunt and faithful friend to many.

Born in Antigonish, NS on June 15, 1932, she was the daughter of Thomas and Kathleen Somers. Fran was a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University, BSc (1952) and worked for many years as a dietitian retiring in 1994 from the Camp Hill Veterans Hospital in Halifax. She took great pleasure in hosting family gatherings, spending time with friends and attending any events where family was involved.

Fran was a longtime member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and the Catholic Women’s League. She will be fondly remembered for her deep religious faith, no fuss approach to life, ever ready sense of humour, acceptance of others and compassion for those in need.

Fran was predeceased by her husband, Roland, her parents and her sister Mary Elizabeth who died in infancy. She is survived by her children, Brian (Morag), Halifax; Stephen (Kathy), Dartmouth; Shannon (the late Camille LeBlanc), Middle Sackville; Michael (Kim), Halifax; Kathleen (Bill Walton), Ottawa; Kevin (Karen), Truro; D’Arcy (Anne), Truro; Erin, Halifax; and Seana, Halifax; her grandchildren, Kandace (Joe), Kelly (Stan), Michael (Emily), Patrick (Cloé), Sean (Brittany), Ryan (Ellen), Matthew (Rachel), Patrick (Brianna), Kathryn (Chinedu), Christopher (Lisa), Meghan (Robert), William, John, Reilly, Erin, Aidan, Luke, Neil, Evan, Alex, Sarah and Olivia; and her great-grandchildren Claire, Phinn, Seamus, Emma, Reid, Remi, Samantha, Hannah, Thomas and Jack. She is also survived by her sisters Grace Brush, Baltimore and Evangeline Dempsey (Reggie), Halifax; brothers John Somers (Anita), Antigonish and Myles Somers (Alice), Grosvenor, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements have been made with Cruikshank’s Halifax Funeral Home. There will be no visitation due to COVID-19 restrictions. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church Wednesday, July 7 at 11:00 AM, registration to attend is required. To register please email [email protected].

To leave an on-line condolence, visit: cruikshankhalifaxfuneralhome.com.

In memory of mom, please consider contributing to a charity of your choice, sharing a smile with your neighbours and lending a hand wherever needed.

Tribute to MoM

On behalf of the family I want to welcome you to this funeral mass for OUR St. Frances. Thank you to everyone for your kind words, prayers and for sharing your stories and memories of our mother – this has provided great comfort to the family.

Thank you as well to Father Irek and Father Owen and all the St. Thomas Aquinas community for your love and support as we celebrate mom’s life this morning.

Our mother Frances Elizabeth, was better known as Fran to many and affectionately as Frannie to those friends who go way back to her high school years in Mabou and university years at St. F.X.

Mom was a woman of her time. Some would say ahead of her time. She was fortunate to be encouraged by her parents, to take the opportunity she was provided, to pursue her education. This meant leaving home to attend high school, followed by university. Mom graduated from ST. F.X. in 1952 and went on to complete her dietetics internship at St. Michaels Hospital in Toronto, followed by work as a dietitian in Toledo, Ohio. No small feat for a young woman from a rural community in NS.

After she married Dad, she continued to work while raising our ever-growing family. During this time there were several moves between Sydney and Halifax. And extended family were often members of the household. For Mom this drew on her incredible organizational skills and ability to take on whatever came her way.

We all knew she loved her work as a dietitian -- but let’s face it - we also knew it provided her welcome respite from whatever chaos was happening at home.

Mom’s strength, resilience and faith were always present and kept her focused on the most important things in life – family, friends and kindness to others.

Mom was no pushover, however. She really did have eyes on the back of her head and a keen awareness when something was amiss. If you did something wrong, she just needed to give you the look - and this wasn’t just reserved for her own kids – a few of you with us today know that look only too well. Mom could surface the catholic guilt better than anyone.

With our parents, unconditional love was simply understood and given. Our friends of all ages were always welcome and made to feel at home. Our house was a safe haven, and our friends knew that too.

Mom really cared and was interested in getting to know those around her. She always looked for the good in people and understood and accepted differences … setting a strong example of living a life with respect for others.

Mom could always see the humor in life -- and she often used it when greeting strangers and friends. As one her neighbours commented “No matter the circumstances she always had that wonderful happy smile and a cheery greeting. A glum day or a grumpy comment was just not on Fran’s radar, and one always felt so much better after an encounter with this lovely lady.”

Over the past year, as mom’s mobility became more of a challenge, she found her inner strength to keep moving and continued to live with purpose. She was always up for a little adventure – a drive, walk in the park, lunch with friends and looked forward to the days ahead.

More recently she often commented that “she was weary”. We created a little game that she got kick out of where every time she would say “I’m weary”…. We’d give her a look and she would laugh and say “I’m Joyful!!” and that is how we will remember her and can only imagine the joy she is finding now as she has reunited with dad.

* * * * * * * * * *

With love, sadness and gratitude for all she gave us, we announce the death of our mother Frances Elizabeth McDonah in Halifax on June 30, 2021.

Fran was the beloved wife of sixty-one years to Roland and treasured matriarch to her family of nine children, twenty-two grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She was also a devoted sister, favoured aunt and faithful friend to many.

Born in Antigonish, NS on June 15, 1932, she was the daughter of Thomas and Kathleen Somers. Fran was a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University, BSc (1952) and worked for many years as a dietitian retiring in 1994 from the Camp Hill Veterans Hospital in Halifax. She took great pleasure in hosting family gatherings, spending time with friends and attending any events where family was involved.

Fran was a longtime member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and the Catholic Women’s League. She will be fondly remembered for her deep religious faith, no fuss approach to life, ever ready sense of humour, acceptance of others and compassion for those in need.

Fran was predeceased by her husband, Roland, her parents and her sister Mary Elizabeth who died in infancy. She is survived by her children, Brian (Morag), Halifax; Stephen (Kathy), Dartmouth; Shannon (the late Camille LeBlanc), Middle Sackville; Michael (Kim), Halifax; Kathleen (Bill Walton), Ottawa; Kevin (Karen), Truro; D’Arcy (Anne), Truro; Erin, Halifax; and Seana, Halifax; her grandchildren, Kandace (Joe), Kelly (Stan), Michael (Emily), Patrick (Cloé), Sean (Brittany), Ryan (Ellen), Matthew (Rachel), Patrick (Brianna), Kathryn (Chinedu), Christopher (Lisa), Meghan (Robert), William, John, Reilly, Erin, Aidan, Luke, Neil, Evan, Alex, Sarah and Olivia; and her great-grandchildren Claire, Phinn, Seamus, Emma, Reid, Remi, Samantha, Hannah, Thomas and Jack. She is also survived by her sisters Grace Brush, Baltimore and Evangeline Dempsey (Reggie), Halifax; brothers John Somers (Anita), Antigonish and Myles Somers (Alice), Grosvenor, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements have been made with Cruikshank’s Halifax Funeral Home. There will be no visitation due to COVID-19 restrictions. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church Wednesday, July 7 at 11:00 AM, registration to attend is required. To register please email [email protected].

To leave an on-line condolence, visit: cruikshankhalifaxfuneralhome.com.

In memory of mom, please consider contributing to a charity of your choice, sharing a smile with your neighbours and lending a hand wherever needed.