Jean Marie (Copley) Walker

Surrounded by her loving family, our mother passed peacefully into the arms of our Father on November 12th, 2012, in Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital. Born January 2nd, 1937, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Inverness. Upon completing her schooling at Holy Family Convent, she soon found employment at the Halifax Infirmary as a nursing student in training and began her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant in 1954 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Inverary Manor and Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital. She loved her profession and as a compassionate caregiver, earned the respect and admiration from all her peers, up until her retirement in 1977 due to ill health. In 1959, she met and later married Alexander “Boy Blue” Walker and together they had five children. After twenty two years of marriage, she became a young widow and was left to raise their children on her own. She did so with an unconditional love, and relied on her deep faith, determination and inner strength. Our mother bore the burden of a heavy cross of ill health for the years that followed but did so with humility and acceptance. She was to be rewarded for her accomplishments with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They completed her life and she truly adored them. Our mother always enjoyed the simple things in life. In her best days, she loved bingo, going to church, reading and had a passion for gardening. Although she worked full time, she managed a well-kept home, with lots of baking and was well known for her delicious pies and homemade dressing and gravy. She was a beautiful piano player and loved to accompany our father while he played the guitar and together they created beautiful childhood memories in their music. Her grandchildren will always cherish sleepovers and treat nights and the silly songs she loved to sing to them. Mom had a great sense of humor, and her co-workers often shared stories of her wit. She grew up in a family that loved baseball and hockey and loved to banter about her Maple Leafs with her brothers and sisters. She shared a special bond with her siblings from a very young age and as they grew up, they grew closer, sharing many cups of tea around her table. She was not only loved as a sister but as a close friend and confidante. Mom became a resident of the Inverary Manor in July of 2006, where she received devoted and dedicated care by her caregivers leading up to her passing. Her family will be forever grateful to all the staff who made it possible for us to enjoy our Mother as a result of their love for her. She was a member of Stella Maris Parish and raised with a strong faith that she instilled in her children and grandchildren. Jean is survived by her children, Gena (Walter Deagle), Sandra (Bernie MacDonnell), Kim (Glen Poirier), Alexander (Junior) and Christian, all of Inverness. She was “Nanny Walker” to Erica,(John Begin) Rachel,(Garett Beaton) and Christine Deagle, Jerrett, Kelly and Cara MacDonnell and Matthew, Melanie and Braden Poirier and to her great-grandchildren, Austin, Riley, Sophie and Bella Begin. She was “Aunt Jean” to 27 nieces and nephews and 36 grand nieces and grand nephews. Also surviving are her sisters, Kay Reid, New Waterford; Genevieve MacMillan, Inverness; Caroline (Geordie Walker), Creignish; her brothers, Eddie (Marie), Russell (Trudy), George (Junior), Jimmy (Ann), all of Inverness; and a special lifetime friend, Betty Graham, Judique. She had a very special friendship with her health provider, Dr. Bernie MacLean, who she loved and respected and took wonderful care of our mother for many years. Although our hearts are broken, we are conforted in knowing she is now with her husband, Boy Blue; parents, George and Elizabeth; sister, Georgina; granddaughter, Christine; sister in law, Edith Copley; brother in laws, Angus MacMillan and Bill Reid. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in Inverness Funeral Home and Funeral mass with traditional burial on Thursday at 11:00am with Fr. Duncan MacIsaac officiating, Stella Maris Parish, Inverness. In lieu of flowers, family requests that memorial donations may be made to Central Inverness Palliative Care Society Inverness or Inverary Manor Ladies Auxilliary. On-line condolences may be made to www.invernessfuneralhome.com

“In your eternal home dear mother, you can finally rest in peace”