Laura Marie Baskerville

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our much loved mother, Laura Marie Baskerville. It is not an easy task to summarize such a rich life with only a few paragraphs but we will do our best.

Born on August 18th, 1936 on Blue Bell Farm, in New Denmark, New Brunswick, Mom was the eldest daughter of six children born to Leone and Bernard Andersen. Raised within the church with strong family values Laura and her sisters often sang in church on Sundays. They were quite good at yodelling! Music was always present in her home as our Grammie was a great piano player. Education was important to our Grampie, so he moved his family off the farm to Bairdsville NB, to make sure his children could finish High School.  He built a small, modest home, which became our second home as children. Mom was incredibly proud of her Danish background, and often told us stories of her grandparents, who were resilient, hardworking immigrants. She was extremely close to her family, a tight knit bond that would remain steadfast throughout her life.   Anytime we return to NB, it is Bairdsville that feels like home to us children. Filled with rich loving memories, with so much laughter, and absolute comfort.

Back in the 50’s, mom realized she had two choices for a profession…nurse or teacher. Being someone who loved people and enjoyed helping others, she chose nurse.

In 1956, while doing her nurse’s training at the VGH in Fredericton NB, mom met her future husband….our father Gordon Baskerville.  She said he looked like a big rooster in his red pyjamas perched on his hospital bed.  Her first words to him were “please take off your clothes”…apparently he was being prepped for surgery.  It was love at first words!  They married two years later on February 18th, 1958. Mom also graduated and became an RN later that same year. Our mother was very proud of her career as a nurse, returning to it after the births of her four children. In the early 1980’s mom became a palliative care nurse and was a trail blazer in the right to die at home.  Her calm, loving, competent demeanour, helped many patients with their final journey.

In 1963 our parents moved to Keswick Ridge NB, where they built a home for their growing family, and raised their children there. Summers were spent sailing on the Mactaquac head pond and winters, skiing at Crabb Mountain. Time with family was always a priority for both of our parents. Plus they had four very energetic children to keep busy, and yeah, we were a handful!

In the early 70’s mom started the first Girl Guide organization on Keswick Ridge along with friend Gail McManus. Mom was a firm believer in equal opportunity for all girls, no matter how rich or poor and made sure that any girl who wanted to join, could. Mom was always aware of her own humble beginnings and wherever, whenever possible, tried to help others.

During our childhood our parents would often host dinner parties. They always allowed us to be present as long as we were not getting too rambunctious. Mom had strict rules of behaviour around company. None of that three strikes and you are out stuff. You got one warning and one warning only. If you could not contain your exuberance you were sent to your room immediately. A very boring prospect that helped us present our very best selves.

As kind and loving as our mom was, she also had a very fiery temper.  The Dane in her would roll out like thunder and woe be the child or adult who was on the receiving end of it. But, just like a flash flood it would recede quickly usually followed by an apology. If not, it meant that you were not yet in her good books, so you had best be walking lightly. Trust us, that little woman could be stubborn!

Mom was always the steady anchor grounding us, ever, sensible, practical and frugal. Sometimes too frugal.  She was involved with TOPS for many years and she would always wear the same dark blue polyester pants to their meetings. Finally, after who knows how long, the other women who were attending wanted to know if those were the only pair of pants she owned, and if so, they would gladly buy her another pair. She thought that was pretty funny but we sometimes wonder if mom hid herself a bit. Some part of her not wanting to be too showy.

In 1992 mom and dad moved to Vancouver BC, where dad worked as head of the Forestry dept at UBC. After his retirement in 1997 they moved to Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island to be closer to family.

Speaking of family, there was no greater joy for mom than her granddaughters. Three strong, unique individuals that she was extremely proud of.  She loved to hear about their travels, adventures, their loves, their work or studies.  Each of them processing a spark of her danish fire within them.

Mom settled into life in Qualicum Beach, joining a book club, bridge club, and exercise group. All of which she loved, including the exercise. She would have us all laughing, when she told us that playing tennis in her 30’s had kept her fit into her 80’s.

After our Dad died in 2013, our amazing brother David moved in with mom and was her constant companion and caregiver, ever patient and kind, with grace and good humour.

Our mom will be remembered for her infectious laugh, her generous heart but mostly for her loving nature and ability to always be there when anyone needed her. In the end it was her big heart that gave out. Mom left this world peacefully at home, in the wee hours of Nov 28th surrounded by her children, listening to the soft sounds of John Denver singing “ Annie’s Song…you fill up my senses”. Beauty, magic, and sorrow, tenderly wrapped in a single moment.

It is sometimes said that we may not get the parent we want, but that we get the parent we need. And yes, there were times when we wished our mom was a little bit more like “this” and a little less like “that”, but she ended up being everything we needed… always a phone call away, a voice of encouragement when things were challenging, filled with wisdom, endless giggles and oh so much love.

Mom was predeceased by her sister Norma, forever in her heart and is survived by her four children, David, Marjorie ( Ross), Michael ( Katie), Kristiane, her three granddaughters, Madison, Lauren and Megan, her three brothers, Fred, Hubert ( Anita), Ray (Carol), her sister Elizabeth ( George) her brother in laws, James Watson, Jack Baskerville, Magdy Badir, and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and will be remembered fondly by her many dear friends.

We would like to thank all the kind nurses from VIHA and Nurse Next Door who supported us during the last few weeks of mom’s life, especially Sue.  Thank you for being our rock.

A celebration of mom’s life will be held later in the Spring 2023

Lives Cherished and Celebrated