Jean Elizabeth Trainor

Jean was born on December 9, 1924 in Medford, Massachusetts, the daughter of Inez and Joseph McFarland. Her family moved to Cheticamp, NS in 1929 where Jean attended grade school. She moved to Halifax to attend high school at Mount St. Vincent Academy and stayed on at the Mount, completing her Bachelor of Home Economics in 1946. Following graduation, she moved to Boston and then New York where she became one of the first female stewardesses for Pan American Airlines. She lived and worked in New York and travelled the world with Pan Am until she returned to Halifax in 1953 where she worked briefly for Trans-Canada Air Lines before marrying the late Thomas L. Trainor in 1954 and starting her family. In 1971, she returned to work for Dr. Charlie MacDonald until her retirement. Jean cherished her many friendships, old and new. She always kept in touch with old friends from Cheticamp and New York. She was a loyal patron of the Elegant Touch Hair Salon on Quinpool Road where she enjoyed the rich exchange of neighborhood news for over four decades. In recent years, she was especially fond of her many outings with dear friend and sister-in-law, Marg.

Jean was pre-deceased by her husband, Tom (1996) and leaves behind her: children Patricia (Tony Munden), Wolfville; Thomas (Zoe Polymenakos), Toronto; Robert (Mary McNally), Halifax; grandchildren Sara and Alexandra Munden and Ryan Trainor; brother Bob (Honey) MacFarland, Halifax; sister Lucille MacDonald, Chardon, Ohio; special sister-in-law Margaret Ann Trainor, and brother-in-law Jim (Barbara) Trainor, Halifax, sister-in-law Barbara (Bruce) Jones, Grimsby; and many nieces and nephews.

Jean lived her last days as she did her entire life, with grace, independence and humour. Her family is grateful for the support provided by the women at the Elegant Touch in recent years as well as the compassionate care she received from Dr. Andrew Humphrey, staff at the QEH, the Gladstone Berkley and VON in recent months.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 31st at Cruikshank’s Funeral Home on Windsor Street, Halifax from 1-2 pm followed by a service at 2:00 pm to celebrate Jean’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean’s memory to Feed Nova Scotia or the Salvation Army would be appreciated.