GRAY, Pamela – 67, of Halifax. Pamela passed away peacefully April 13th in the Palliative Care unit of the QEII. Pamela was diagnosed with ALS three years ago and suffered an ongoing decline in her health. She was able to remain living at home until a sudden accelerated decline in her health made that impossible and she spent her final week in the Palliative Care unit. Pamela was born in Corbridge-on-Tyne in England on April 11th, 1945 and was one of two daughters of Nancy Gray and the late Norman Gray. Sadly, Pamela’s sister Angela died in 1996. Pamela is survived by her loving husband Brian Penney and mother Nancy Gray. Pamela spent many years providing care for her mother , now aged 99, who has lived with Pamela and Brian for 30 years. As Pamela’s illness progressed her mother Nancy provided a great source of comfort to Pamela. Pamela moved to London as a student and received a degree in Chinese and then worked as a curator in the British Museum and in a specialist museum of Chinese art and archeology. She later worked as the administrator at Kings College Biophysics Unit for Nobel prize winner Professor Maurice Wilkins. Soon after graduating she met the man whom she would later marry, Brian Penney. Pamela and Brian moved to Canada in 1978 for three years but never returned.. Pamela and Brian both worked in the high tech industry in Ottawa until they moved to Halifax in 1995. Pamela had a wide circle of friends from all eras of her life and became a prodigious user of email, Facebook and Twitter. As her health declined, her various postings were widely appreciated by her circle of friends. She and Brian decided as soon as she was diagnosed with ALS to do as much travel as they could and they visited friends and family in England and Canada. As her illness progressed Pamela and Brian took extended weekend trips in Nova Scotia, then day trips within easy driving range. In 2011 her disabilities increased and no more travel was possible for the last six months. As her illness became more debilitating Pamela truly missed her love of good food, wine and conversation with friends and family. She remained active on email, Facebook and Twitter almost to the end. Pamela received great support from the health care system at all levels. She would especially wish to highlight the day-in and day-out care provided to her (and her mother) by the dedicated team of Red Cross care workers and the ALS Society of Nova Scotia for their human support and loans of wheelchairs and other equipment.
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