Laura Donohue

Donohue (Wheeler), Laura Grace passed away in her 88th year at Melville Gardens in Halifax. Mum’s body went to be where her broken heart had gone; to be with her husband and best friend, Gerry, who had died 16 years earlier. Mum grew up in a large family in Halifax on Brunswick Street. Despite the difficulties of the times, Mum completed her high school and went on to secretarial school. Along with her sister, Hilda, she spent a year working in Montreal but returned home to Halifax where she met this “handsome sailor with thick eye lashes”. During the fifties, Mum worked and started a family. For this era it was unusual that a married woman with children would work outside the home but Mum was determined that her family should be taken care of “just in case something should happen to your Dad at sea”. Always up for an adventure, Mum’s reaction to Dad saying he had been posted to Ireland for a year was, “Let’s go!” The family of four travelled to Ireland on the Bonaventure. In the following year the family returned to Nova Scotia. Many wonderful holidays were spent fishing and camping along the rivers and ocean of Nova Scotia. In the sixties, the family now with three children, moved to London, ON, where Laura was employed for several years at Howell Forwarding. Wanting another challenge, Laura worked as Supervisor in the Administrative Services Division, C.P.I.C. (Canadian Police Information Centre) at the London Police Force for 20 years. Laura was very pleased with her staff which had a 1% error rate. At C.P.I.C. she formed friendships that would last a life time. Both wanting to leave something behind “for the animals”, Mum and Dad started a wildlife sanctuary called Gerlaudon.

Mum was predeceased by her mother, Viola Matilda Wheeler (Cleveland) and father, Herbert John Wheeler. Mum is the last survivor of twelve children. Mum never got over the loss of her twin sister, Maudie, who passed away at the age of 12, and later in life, her sisters, Hilda and Helen. Special mention to her best friend, Gloria Rogers. Mum was a very private person who kept her emotions to herself but she always told her family just how much she loved Gloria. Also very close is Kathie O’Flynn whose friendship Mum treasured. Thank you Gloria and Kathie for brightening Mum’s life with cards, letters, and lots of love. Laura Donohue was a good Mum who gave a lot more to others than she asked for herself. She had a great sense of humour. She was a “Great Lady”. When Mum left us she knew she was loved. At her side was daughter, Rebecca M. Donohue (Ronald L. Naud); son, Patrick M. Donohue, and granddaughter, Tara Alders (Jamie). Big hug to you Tara for the years you took care of your “Gammy”. She will be missed by her daughter, Kathleen Andrews (Bill), London, ON. Surviving and much loved are grandchildren, Spencer Lee Bailey Noonan (Shelley), Jennifer Green (Tim), Angela Jacklyn (Donnie); great grandchildren, Matthew, Meaghan, Liam and Page. Special thanks to the staff of the 4th floor of Melville Gardens. Cremation has taken place. At Mum and Dad’s request, a private ceremony will be held at Gerlaudon Wildlife Sanctuary.

“C’mon Lolly. The truck is loaded. The boat is on the trailer. Let’s go fishing.” 