Alsa M Ferguson

It is with bittersweet sadness that we announce the death of Alsa M. Ferguson of Campbellton, N.B.. Alsa passed away surrounded by loved ones at the Campbellton Regional Hospital on Wednesday, May 08, 2024 at the age of 94.

Alsa was born on February 22, 1930 in Campbellton, NB to the late Ed and Lou (Chisholm) MacIntyre. She grew up in a large, loving family and received her elementary, junior, and high school education in Campbellton. From a very early age, Alsa wanted to be a nurse. She received her formal training at the Soldiers Memorial Hospital in Campbellton and began her career as a Registered Nurse in 1953.

Alsa married the late James Ferguson in 1956 and, in addition to raising a family, which grew to include three children, maintained her career in nursing at various hospitals in Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and New Brunswick. Early in her career, Alsa worked as head nurse in the emergency room but she soon found her greatest love as a medical professional in the delivery room and on the maternity ward. Alsa’s ultimate joy was welcoming new babies into the world (and she delivered more than a few before the doctors arrived).

Alsa fiercely loved her family and was so very proud of her Scottish heritage. She was remarkable at every stage of her life and an inspiration to those who had the privilege to know her. She found enjoyment in reading, music, sports, poetry, nature, travelling, knitting, and especially in providing care for others. She was an avid hockey fan and her team was the Pittsburg Penguins only because her favourite player was Sid the Kid.

Throughout her long life, Alsa made it a point to never stop learning. When presented with an iPad for her 82nd birthday, she took to it like a duck to water and never put it down. It soon became her window on the world and her preferred method of communication. She loved to actually see the faces of loved ones when it was time for a video chat. She will be fondly remembered for her caring ways, her wonderful sense of humour, and her quick wit which she honed on a daily basis right up until the end.

In her later years, Alsa reconnected (through either a miracle from above or the marvels of modern technology) with a daughter she thought she had lost forever back in 1955. True to her form, she quickly adjusted to her new reality. She was able to close the family circle and share lots of love and laughs with her new found friend and daughter as she did with all of her children.

Alsa is survived by Louise Poirier (François) of Montreal, Allan Ferguson (Hana) of Ottawa, Leslie Ferguson of Campbellton and their families. She is also survived by her brother, Donald MacIntyre (Sharon) of Sackville, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Alsa dearly loved them all but she had a special love for her brother Allie’s daughter, Patti Trembley, who followed in Alsa’s footsteps to become a medical practitioner.

Besides her parents, Alsa was predeceased by her dear son, Andrew, and siblings: Rusty, Murph, Ruby, Eva, Boyd, James, and Allan.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Campbellton Regional Hospital for the excellent care provided to Alsa during her many visits over the years and the staff and residents of Foyer de Bellevue for the love and care shown to their ‘newest, oldest’ resident during the last few months of her life. She truly loved her new home. Finally, we wish to thank niece Dawna White and ‘The Three Amigos’- Sarah Fenwick, Charlotte Hamilton-Cameron, and Gracie Firth - for the friendship, love, and care they gave to Alsa throughout the years and by her side to the very end.

A Celebration of life for Alsa will be held at Maher's Funeral Chapel, 64 Lansdowne St., Campbellton, Thursday June 27th at 11AM, followed by a burial at the Rural Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.maherfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made on behalf of Alsa to ALS Canada (to help fight Lou Gehrig’s disease) or Breast Cancer Canada.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care of Maher’s funeral Home, Campbellton.

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