Lynn died peacefully at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital on May 7, 2019 after a short illness. Her husband, children and sisters were by her bedside throughout her time in the hospital. While their lives will never be the same, they are grateful for a lifetime of love and joy.
Born in Halifax on August 14, 1950, she was the beloved daughter of Betty Lois Kinley and Charles Archibald (Arch) Thomas. The oldest of four girls, Lynn looked to her sisters, her parents and their life in Halifax as the foundation upon which she built a life defined by family, faith and meaningful relationships. She continued the family tradition of graduating from Acadia University and went on to complete a Masters degree at the University of Waterloo where she met her husband, Fred. Together, they started their careers and their family in Cape Breton with the intent of staying for just two years. However, the Island and its people never relinquished their hold on them. For 44 years they shared their passion for science (notably hydrogeology), their love for their children and an innate joy for being out-of-doors. Her three children will remember her unconditional love, her tremendous generosity, the authenticity with which she lived her life and the millions of little things she did that resulted in a lifetime of happy memories.
Lynn lived her life fully and, as such, the list of activities that brought her joy is long - tea with friends, playing with her grandchildren, family time at White Point, trips to Halifax to see her mother and sisters, yoga and crafts with the girls, making and delivering Christmas treats to friends and acquaintances, gardening at home, lunch at the Dancing Goat and any kind of road trip that took her to people she cared about. She dedicated herself to all manner of things that would allow Cape Breton to be enjoyed by others: conservation of the Bras d’Or Lake, preservation of the Acadian forest and the creation of new hiking trails around the Bras d’Or. She was also responsible for developing the water supplies of numerous homes and communities across the Island. However, perhaps the most lingering image of Lynn in her element is to picture her and Fred exploring all of Cape Breton’s natural wonders: discovering the forests in Johnstown, hiking Kelly’s Mountain on their anniversary, storm-chasing along the Atlantic coast, collecting water samples at the Big Barren at the top of the Cape Breton Highlands, long walks on Inverness Beach and examining any rock that looked interesting enough to merit stopping the car!
As we struggle to navigate this new world without Lynn, we remain steadfast in knowing that we and the lands that she stewarded were blessed to have her in our lives.
Lynn was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Fred Baechler, their children; Jenny Baechler (Grant Wells), Halifax; Katie Baechler-Kilb (Brad Kilb), Calgary; and Thomas Baechler (Genevieve MacArthur), Vermillion; grandchildren, Tayah, Bradyn, Cela and Chase Kilb, and Jaxson and Averi Baechler; her loving sisters; Patsy Thomas, Peggy (Glenn) Dunbar and Joy (Gary) Morgan, several nieces and nephews: Scott, Andrew and Morgan MacKinnon and Jamie and Matthew Dunbar.
We would like to thank Dr. Andrew Giorno and Dr. Glenn Gracie and her entire medical team at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital for their devotion and care.
A service to remember and celebrate Lynn’s life will be held at 1:30pm on Friday, May 17 at the United Heritage Church (500 Charlotte Street, Sydney) with Reverend Rusty Edwards officiating. A reception in the church hall will follow.
Donations in memory may be made to: Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton County.
To leave online condolences please visit www.twcurry.com
