Dalton and Sheila London are familiar faces around the Cathedral. Both participate in the choir, Sunday readings, and in Charis groups. Dalton is also a member of the Religious and Spiritual Care Department at the DECH, takes communion to shut-ins, is a eucharistic assistant, commissioned by the Bishop, and presides over Evening Prayer on Mondays. Lately the Londons have become even more familiar to the community as a result of a recent article in the DAILY GLEANER, about their experience getting back to Canada after cutting short their holiday in France due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Dalton is a native of Woodstock, NB and Sheila is from Nova Scotia. They met while students at Acadia. Dalton then studied at Grenoble, France, where he received a Dd’U in French Literature, and later a post doctorate in Applied Linguistics at the Université de Savoie in Chambéry where they lived for their four full-year sabbaticals.
Prior to completing his doctorate in Grenoble, he was offered positions in Lethbridge, Mount Allison, and UNB. We are thankful that he chose UNB. Sheila received her BA and MA in History from UNB. Both are fluent in the French language.
Dalton was professor at UNB for 30 years, and has been retired for 22. However, it seems he is busier than ever. He volunteers regularly at the DECH, has a passion for photography, (Dalton has approximately 83,000 photos on their iMac), they are noted hosts (they frequently have guests for meals), love to garden, both are frequently seen at musical events and concerts, sing in the Cathedral choir, and are active participants in the lives of their grandchildren.
Dalton and Sheila have a son, Michael, (Vancouver) and a daughter, Marianne, who teaches at Bliss Carman Middle School. Her children are also familiar around the Cathedral. Sebastian, Caroline, and Christian are all members of the Server Team. However, Sebastian, has just recently returned from studying in his first year at St. Andrews University at St. Andrews, Scotland, where he is pursuing courses in Medicine. All three children are very musical and excel in the Fredericton Music Festival each year. This year, however, it appears that experience will be on hold due to the recent epidemic.
Since retirement, Dalton, Dalton has for the past 20 years volunteered in the Palliative Care Unit at the DECH and he and Sheila have spent 19 winters in France, 17 of which have been spent in Nice, on the French Riviera. They are both active in the Anglican Church there, Holy Trinity, and Dalton has volunteered at the Hôpital de Cimiez for the past 15 winters. He frequently shares with us many of the beautiful scenes there. This year, however, they had to cut their stay short. They were very fortunate in that they were on a plane to Frankfurt, Germany, on their journey home, when all of France went into shut-down! Just in time!! They were surprised at the ease with which they crossed borders without much checking on their health status, regarding the Covid-19. They are now undergoing the requisite self isolation, and so far all is well. We pray that they remain in good health, and we can all see one another again soon.
I'll remember Catherine's smile the most. She was often quiet, but her smile was big and bright.
She flashed that beautiful smile many times after arriving in Canada four years ago: the first taste of sweet, cold ice cream; the first time she decorated a Christmas tree and the colourful, twinkling lights came on; her first doll and some stuffed animals to decorate her very own bedroom; receiving a new shawl which she wrapped around herself with real fashion flair; accepting compliments on her latest hairstyle or new shoes; dancing joyfully with the Making Africa Proud troupe; getting money unexpectedly to add minutes to her mobile phone account; planning to attend her high school graduation in June 2020.
There probably wasn't a lot for Catherine to smile about in the refugee camp where she was born in the Ivory Coast in 2000. Life was miserable. Home was a leaky shack without electricity or running water. Food was scrounged daily; many times, there wasn't any. The camp had too many desperate and violent people. Medical care was non-existent. She attended school for a couple years, but it closed, which left an intelligent girl lacking in literacy and numeracy. It was the only life she had ever known, and when she got to Canada and people kept asking about her goals, she had none at first. It had seemed pointless to dream in the refugee camp.
In Canada Catherine found a warm welcome, shelter, safety, plenty of food, nice clothes, new friends, fun times. She could go to school now and get medical attention. She started thinking about becoming a nurse or a hair stylist some day, especially after the liver transplant gave her a new lease on life. She was studying to take the test to become a Canadian citizen.
The team sponsoring the refugee family admired how she honoured her parents by always helping them with household chores and errands. We were proud of how she stoically accepted all the medical procedures and the endless medications. We had such high hopes for this lovely girl who deserved a long, productive life after all she had been through.
News of her death made me cry. It was like losing a member of my extended family. It seemed so sad and so unfair for Catherine, for her parents who had brought her to Canada for a better life, and to the team who had worked so hard to raise money, provide support and friendship, and help the family adjust to life in Canada. While upset that her life was cut short, we are grateful that she had a few years of happiness in Canada. She was baptized here, and we are sure that she has been promoted to eternal glory.
A beautiful spirit has moved on, and Catherine's smile will forever light up the heavens. Our prayers continue for her grieving family now that she is in a place where there is no sorrow.
--by Ann Deveau
Please note: A memorial service and reception will be held at Christ Church (Parish) Church after the state of emergency has been lifted and public gatherings can resume.
Christmas comes gradually to our house—gradually and somewhat gently. Of course, it wasn’t always like that. When I was a child, Christmas arrived suddenly! It came on Christmas morning when we got out of bed and after opening the living room door, found that the room had been magically transformed with a fully decorated tree.
Santa always left our stockings at the foot of our beds. I still recall waking up and wiggling my toes to see if the stocking was there—and the joy and wonderment of finding it and realizing who had put it there! When you moved it with your foot, it made a special sound that cannot be compared to anything else.
But it all happened on that one day—which made the whole experience that much more exciting! Mind you, there were still events that led up to Christmas. Advertising on radio and TV still encouraged us to get our shopping done early, and there was still the Santa Claus parade. More important than the parade was the opening of “Toyland.” Yes, my friends, I remember when there were no malls, the stores were on one or two streets downtown, and they did not keep a full selection of toys all year long. “Toyland” meant that Christmas was really coming!
But in spite of this limited hype, things didn’t start to get serious for me until the party on the last day of school. After school ended, I would get perhaps as much as two or three dollars from Mom to go downtown and buy something special for my grandmother. It was usually a nick-nack to go on her mantle. Dogs, cats and other cute animals were very popular with me and her other grandchildren. As a result, Nanny’s mantle resembled a menagerie. I am sure that many a saleslady was silently screaming at how much time it took me to choose just the right piece.
On Christmas Eve morning, my sister and I would take the bus to Nanny’s house to get a pair of her stockings. She wore those special “old lady” stockings that were perfect for hanging up. Nylons just didn’t seem to work! We would phone her in the morning, “Nanny, do you have any of your stockings you could let us borrow?” The answer was always “Yes” for her many grandchildren. I’m surprised that Christmas Day found her with any stockings left to wear.
The bus ride to her house was also special. For me, bus rides were always special. But this one, more so. Mom would give us bus fare—a shiny five cent piece, “Put this inside your mitten and don’t take it out until you get on the bus! Nanny will give you another one for the ride back.”
The 2019 Nativity Scene at Christ Church Cathedral
Now, we could have walked down the street and taken the West Loop bus that went down the hill, and we would have been at Nanny’s house in no time. But I always liked to take the bus going in the opposite direction. The cost was the same, but you got a much longer ride. You traveled along Water Street, where you could see the Christmas lights and the people hurrying into the stores. They were getting on the bus, loaded down with mysterious packages! People seemed to act differently because it was Christmas Eve. People smiled more, and we often heard those magical words, Merry Christmas.
Over the years our habits have changed. Christmas doesn’t arrive as suddenly as when I was a child. I couldn’t possibly do what my parents did on Christmas Eve. But we are still a family that decorates the tree just before Christmas—as opposed to just before Remembrance Day—and I am, purposely, one of the last on my street to decorate the outside of my house. But mid- November finds us at the tree farm picking out our tree and around the end of November, we start to see hints of Christmas. The ornate wall hanging suddenly shows up. Then, a bit later, the everyday mugs disappear, replaced by the Christmas mugs. By Advent Sunday, the ceramic Christmas tree will have appeared. And a bit later, my well-thumbed copy of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” calls out to me. But the tree in all its glorious and majestic splendor is still left until almost Christmas. On the other hand, our decorations stay up and the outside lights stay lit until Twelfth Night.
Bringing out the Christmas decorations is always special. Seeing that particular favourite ornament is like welcoming back an old friend. Seeing the boys’ special ornaments always brings back memories of Christmases past. And even trying to figure out how strings of lights could possibly have twisted themselves that much while sitting for eleven months in a motionless box is more or less tolerable!
In spite of having celebrated many Christmases, we are still caught up in the rush of Christmas shopping and the dash to make sure that we have those last minute things, which always seem to get forgotten.
But even so, our Christmas seems to come gradually and gently. Perhaps that fits with how the baby Jesus arrived. May your Christmas be joyous and gentle.
They say that the heart always comes home for Christmas and perhaps that is why so many memories of Christmas’s past seem to fill our minds at this special time of the year.
We’ve been asking congregation members to share some of their special Christmas memories with us. Here’s what the attendees of the December Medley Tea had to say.
For Rita Veysey, the thrill of Christmas was the Christmas Sock! This much-anticipated sock and the gathering of the entire family for Christmas dinner are part of Rita’s favourite memories.
Elizabeth Smith lived in Saint John when she was a youngster, and her best Christmas present was a cardboard grocery store complete with canned goods. She was six years old when she received this gift and was mightily impressed with it. She recalled scurrying next door to share her good luck with her friend, who had also received a grocery store, and hers was made out of wood!
Lots and lots of snow and hunting for a Christmas tree in the woods are fond memories shared by Yvonne Milward. Yvonne grew up near Rusagonis on the family homestead and remembers that her father would take them out the weekend before Christmas into the woods to choose a tree. Invariably, in spite of his warnings before the tree was cut down, the children would pick one much too large, and it would wind up having to be substantially shortened before coming into the house. Apparently, little ones have eyes that are too big for both trees and their bellies!
Fern Wolstenholme recalls every Christmas (without fail) getting up very early and getting into the car to head to Wirral and to Welsford. Fern, her sister, and her parents would leave Sussex and travel through rain, sunshine, sleet, or snow to spend Christmas with both sets of grandparents. The girls were allowed to take one thing from under the tree for the journey and usually, they chose a book. Of course, the Christmas trees were real back then and were decorated with real candles, which would be lit for a short time. Fern said that her aunts were probably waiting behind the parlour door with a bucket of water, just in case!
Althea Barlow said that when she was little, the children were never allowed to see the tree before Christmas morning. What anticipation they must have felt when they tumbled out of bed that morning!
The fondest memory that Joan Harrison shared was of the first night that she was allowed to attend the midnight Christmas Eve service with her family. She was only about six years old, and it snowed that night as they walked the mile or so together from their home to the Anglican church in Plaster Rock. She can still picture the beauty of that evening.
Ken Howlett began every Christmas Eve as a young boy with a family skate on Lake Edward, followed by going to church together. When they returned home from church, they would put a lunch out for Santa before heading to bed. Ken also remembers the sparklers and real candles that decorated the tree and the warning to little ones to sit down and not touch the tree. The mischievous twinkle in Ken’s eye as he related this story leads one to believe that those warnings were well advised!
They say that the heart always comes home for Christmas …
When Carolyn Howlett was six years old, all she wanted for Christmas was a doll carriage. There seemed to be a dearth of doll carriages in the shopping area close to New Denmark. Thankfully, Carolyn had an aunt and uncle living in Toronto and her mother wrote to them to share her dilemma. Off they went to Eaton’s and a doll carriage was shipped from Toronto to New Denmark. For little ones, Carolyn says it was all about the cookies and the presents!
Wendy Brien recalls the Christmas that they spent in what is now the family cottage in Maquadavic. They had moved to New Brunswick from Silver Springs outside of Washington, after her Father suffered an injury. The log cabin on Maquadavic Lake was built by Wendy’s grandfather, and they lived there for a year or so before moving into town. Wendy told us how beautiful and magical a place the cabin was with its huge stone fireplace and still is magical to this day. She remembers an owl who got to spend Christmas with them, due to a broken wing. He was a well-behaved owl, unless he smelt smoke. Then he would hoot and hoot. No need for a smoke alarm in that house!
Mavis Cater, and her daughter Amy Elizabeth, both commented on the year that Amy Elizabeth received a bouncing ball. lt seems it was one of Amy Elizabeth’s favourite toys and one on which she could sit and bounce joyfully all around the house. Mavis said, somewhat wistfully, “I wish I had one as well.” She may have been expressing what many mothers feel at the end of Christmas Day, as well-sugared children head off to bed. “Oh for a bouncy ball…” Mavis also told us how on Christmas Day, she loved to head over to her granny’s house in Williamsburg. She had a young cousin just a year older than her, who due to having lost her Mother at an early age, lived with her grandmother. She would receive lots and lots of toys—more than enough for her and Mavis to enjoy!
… so many memories of Christmas’s past seem to fill our minds
When her children were about two and four years old, Juanita Fowler recalls finally getting them off to bed and asleep so that gifts from Santa could be placed under the tree on Christmas Eve. While the children did indeed get into bed, sleep apparently was a little farther away than Juanita thought. As presents were being placed carefully around the tree, a little voice was heard whispering, “Page you got your carriage!” Paige wound up spending the night sleeping with her mother, and Kevin slept with his father to prevent any further destruction of Santa’s surprises.
Lois Baker’s next-door neighbour could have helped Juanita solve the problem of sneak peeks on Christmas Eve. They had six rambunctious little ones to try to corral in their rooms, as presents went under the tree. The neighbour solved the problem by tying the bedroom doors together during this process!
Lois’s father was the true Christmas lover in the family. They had a big old house where rooms could be shut off and not heated when not being used. Much to his delight, the Christmas tree went up in one of these rooms. That meant that it could stay up long after Christmas. Sometimes it would stay up until Easter. Every Sunday, Lois, her sister, and her father would light the fireplace and sing Christmas carols! That’s a true Christmas afficionado.
One Christmas was especially jolly for Mary Pugh’s little brother. He was running around and round the dining room table, full of more energy than usual because the seven-year-old had indulged in brandy butter! Mary’s family lived in a big Victorian house in England with a huge staircase. Like Althea Barlow’s family, the Christmas tree was never put up until after the children were tucked up in bed on Christmas Eve. One can imagine the expressions on the children’s faces the next morning!
As we head towards Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, keep checking this website for more stories of Christmas past.
We welcome Emily Leavitt and Holden O'Donnell to the Cathedral summer staff and are pleased they are part of our cathedral family for the time.
Holden O'Donnell and Emily Leavitt
Emily Leavitt is a 2016 graduate of Fredericton High School now studying for a music degree at Mt. Allison University. She hopes to go on to a Masters of Music when she completes her undergraduate degree. While at Fredericton High she was a member of the Pit Orchestra, the Glee Choir, the Concert Band and took part in many musical productions. She also participated in the FHS Kats Kitchen. Her experience runs the gamut from volunteering in several music programs and workshops to clerking at Westminster Books, working with Meals On Wheels and even being a polls revision officer for the municipal election.
Holden O’Donnell will be entering his grade 12 year in the fall at Fredericton High. He is very interested in history, particularly that of New Brunswick and Fredericton which is one of the reasons for his having applied for the job as guide. He is a two-time national finalist at the Canadian Geographic Challenge, is working toward his bronze level Duke of Edinburgh Award and member at the Fredericton South Youth Roundtable. His work experience is varied as an umpire in 2017 with the New Brunswick Umpire Association as well as a warehouse and production worker at Valley Graphics.
Meet Carole and Michael Hines and their 11 year old grey cat, Foggy.
They both come from suburbs of Birmingham , England, and met while working at the University of Birmingham. Michael was a Research Technician with the Bio-engineering Department, and the University of New Brunswick recruited him to join their Engineering faculty here. Michael came out first to scout the idea, and then promptly proposed marriage to Carole long distance over the phone! They were married within two months after that call, in 1970, after previously being engaged for four years.
Carole and Michael
When first in Fredericton, they attended St. John's Anglican Church in the Parish of Douglas and Nashwaaksis on Fredericton's north side, where they lived. After several moves, and settling on the south side of the river, they came to the Cathedral, drawn there by an ALPHA course [read about ALPHA here]. There they met new friends, among them Isabel Cutler, who was most welcoming, so they stayed!
Carole and Michael have one daughter, Samantha, and one granddaughter, Willow, who live in Nova Scotia. They remain a close family and are together as often as possible.
When Dean Keith Joyce and family moved from the Deanery about six years ago, Odell House was deteriorating rapidly because of its age and because it had been sitting empty for almost a year. There was great concern about the future of the building, especially if it remained unoccupied. The Hines’, feeling directed by God, their appreciation of historical buildings and a desire to hopefully be of help, volunteered to live there, and care for the building and garden until decisions were made about the house's future. In the past six years, they have made many improvements to update and brighten the interior. Bishop and Chapter directed that exterior repairs needed to be made by replacing the roof and by carrying out repairs on the veranda and porch this past summer. The Lychgate was designed, made and installed by a close friend of Michael's. The garden has also been re-shaped and revived (after previous hard work done by Nathan Cutler), hopefully for the enjoyment of all.
Gardening is Michael's hobby, and he does it well. Winter seems long and he is anxious to return to his garden.
He has also been a member of Rotary (held the position of President for both the North and South Side Rotary Club (not at the same time!), directed and participated in the maintenance of Camp Rotary at Grand Lake for fifteen years, is a Freemason, and is an active member of the Guild of Saint Joseph at the Cathedral. Michael is also an ardent Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey fan, and even sported an authentic Leaf jersey with "HINES" prominently printed on the back!
Gardening is Michael's hobby, and he does it well.
Carole is an active volunteer with the Cathedral, with Outreach on Monday mornings, coordinator and active volunteer of Helping Hands, member of the Health Ministry Team, and member of the Cathedral greeters team. She is also a member of a Charis Group, and she and Michael both have participated in the ALPHA program.
Michael had a quadruple bypass in Saint John three years ago, but it didn't slow him down for long. He has been able to pass along the wisdom from that experience to other members of our congregation to try to help them through a similar situation, as others had helped and supported him.
Both are so willing to help whenever possible. When asked if they would pass on any "words of wisdom," they suggested that if you want to meet people and make friends in a new country, city or church, just volunteer, become active and join clubs that interest you. You will be glad you did! We are certainly pleased they joined the Cathedral family.
A native of Sackville, New Brunswick, our own Canon Elaine Lucas, is a well travelled lady with a sense of adventure, and wonderful stories to tell.
She says she got used to moving about because her father was with the CN railway, and the family lived in Sackville, Blackville, Moncton and Aulac, New Brunswick. Her mother died when she was only seven years old, so she was raised with the help of a father, stepmother, and both sets of grandparents.
Elaine was educated in public schools in NB, graduating in 1941. A diploma from Mount Allison Commercial College in 1941, was eventually followed by a Bachelor of Arts from the same university in 1951, a Licentiate in Theology from Wycliffe College in 1954, and an Honour Diploma from the Anglican Women’s Training College in 1954.
She had visions of becoming a missionary in India. However, permission to go to India was denied and she ended up in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, in the diocese of Caledonia from 1958-1962. There she travelled in an old second hand car between Prince Rupert and Prince George to work with young women and the poor, setting up programs such as Junior Auxiliary, (JA) and Girls’ Auxiliary (GA), became Leader of Diocesan Church camps (with tents) for young people. A stint as a Canadian Indian Worker in Toronto followed for a year.
Then she was ready for a sabbatical! That took her to Christ Church College at the University of Oxford in England. While at Oxford she had the opportunity to sit in on classes that interested her, for three terms, and to travel extensively throughout England, and Europe. She mentions spending Christmas with her Bulmer relatives in France and visiting Holland to see the tulip bulbs in bloom. Her Aunt travelled some of the time with her, and together they came back to Canada via ship.
The transition back to Canada was difficult, with no job. She had a fellow classmate from college days, Gordon Baker, rector of a busy church in London, Ontario and became very active in that congregation. While in London, she worked as an assistant Executive Director with the Canadian Mental Health Association, and employee and then Advertising Manager at Zip-Penn Co. Ltd. Elaine also worked as a volunteer in the Palliative Care Unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital, as member and past president of Warner Place Seniors’ Residence, past president and member of the Board of Directors, LIFT Non Profit Housing of London Inc., member and later Chair of the London Innercity Faith Council, and member of various committees of the Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church.
This busy lady became self-employed, with Elaine Lucas Associates, and was a CASE Counsellor with the Federal Business Development Bank, in London.
There is still an apartment building in downtown London, Ontario, named the Elaine Lucas Place.
Elaine was married briefly (for five years), but unfortunately it did not last, and Elaine still has difficulty talking about it and its rarely discussed.
While in London, she was ordained Deacon and Priest in 1996, and became Assistant Priest at Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church, 1996-1998.
She then felt the need to return to her roots in New Brunswick. Her first choice would have been Sackville, but she tells of sitting in a chair and asking “Where should I go?” Then she says a voice, just as clear as anything, told her to “go to Fredericton,” so she did! With a friend, she drove the long drive from London to Fredericton, to find a place to live. Interestingly, her contact here was our former Cathedral office secretary, Mary Jarratt, who had been at Mount Allison with her. They had taken courses together, and so she stayed with her friend while she decided on where to live. She moved here in the Spring of 1998, when Bill Hockin was Dean of Fredericton. Elaine became Honorary Assistant at the Cathedral, assisting in many ways, often presiding at Wednesday morning Eucharist. She was appointed Canon of Christ Church Cathedral in 2003, and continued as Pastoral Assistant.
Due to health issues with the onset of Parkinson’s Disease, Elaine moved to Farraline Home on Queen Street, where she made many friends. She loved the gardens, and we would often see her walking in the neighbourhood as well as across the Bill Thorpe walking bridge. She was not one to sit idly.
More recently, as symptoms of Parkinson’s have progressed, it became necessary to move to Pine Grove Nursing Home, where she is at present. Elaine participates in the many activities there. One day she was observed decorating a gingerbread house and doing a splendid job! On another, she was participating in a handbell choir, directed by Verna Hayward. She really enjoys that.
Elaine continues to take an active interest in Cathedral activities and asks about various people in the congregation, and how they are.
Elaine’s Christian witness is as effective as ever continuing to be a most caring individual. We all wish her well.
Ann and Doug are well known around the Cathedral for their many hours of volunteer work.
Ann is from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and Doug is from Norfolk, Nebraska. They began attending the Cathedral in 1997 as a middle way between her Roman Catholic upbringing and his background in the United Methodist church. The route to Fredericton taken by this busy, caring couple is interesting.
Ann Deveau and Doug Milander
Doug received a journalism degree in Nebraska and, immediately after graduation, he received his military draft notice. It was during the Vietnam War which he opposed. He made the life-altering decision to move to Canada, knowing he faced prison for draft evasion if he returned to the USA where his parents and family remained.
He worked at a weekly newspaper in Morris, Manitoba, as editor, photographer, reporter, and it was a seven day per week effort. He reported for a daily newspaper in Winnipeg before he moved to Saint John, N.B., to work for the TELEGRAPH JOURNAL, often covering the court circuit. He comments that although it is cold in the winter on the prairies, he felt the damp cold even more in Saint John!
He proudly became a Canadian citizen but was not allowed into the USA until President Jimmy Carter declared an amnesty for draft evaders in 1977. Following a long backpacking trip overland from England to Nepal, he got a job as a legislative reporter for the DAILY GLEANER. One of his new colleagues at that newspaper was Ann Deveau who had earned a journalism degree at Carleton University in Ottawa.
They married in 1978 in St. Mark's chapel at Kings Landing. By this time, Doug had switched from newspapers to radio and worked in Moncton and Fredericton as a reporter and news reader. Many of us remember him as such. Ann worked as a television reporter, then opted to try government communications. She had a number of interesting responsibilities including speech writing for whichever government was in power, press announcements, interacting with reporters, and preparing government officials for news conferences. She had to be very versatile!
Ann has been retired for five years, and Doug for 12 years. At that time, they stepped up the volunteer work they had always done during their careers. For example, Doug had coached sports and Ann has been a top fund-raiser for a Run for the Cure team and served four times as a judge for the National Newspaper Awards.
Help as many people as much as you can. So many people are in need.
Retirement was the beginning of a very active life for them, centred on the Cathedral and people in need.
Ann was secretary of the Missions Committee for eight years, and both have been on three mission trips to work at St. Hilda's School in Belize. They volunteer every Monday morning with the Outreach program, a weekly drop-in for people in need. They deliver weekly Food Bank donations, organize the Christmas Angels program, and volunteer monthly at the soup kitchen. Both are longtime regulars as ushers/greeters and recently became readers and prayer leaders at services.
A time-consuming but rewarding assignment recently was their service on the archdeaconry’s refugee sponsorship committee and their efforts to help a Liberian refugee family settle into Canada.
One wonders how they would have time for anything else! However, they love to travel and have seen many places in North America, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and Europe. They recently returned from a tour of Italy. They love to read, work in their lovely gardens, go hiking and camping with their tent trailer, and help wherever they can. The neighbours all know them for their ‘dog stop’ on the corner by their house. They provide fresh water for the many dogs who walk past with their owners and offer a means to dispose of the “doggie doo.”
It is not hard to guess what “Words of Wisdom” this couple has to offer:
“Help as many people as much as you can. So many people are in need.” They certainly live up to their advice!
Mary Allwood lives in a comfortable Fredericton home and approaching (October 2017) it is decorated for Fall with beautiful wreaths on the doors, flowers and bunches of Autumn leaves in a container.
Mary is well known at the Cathedral as she is often the one who organizes or helps to cater the many receptions held in the hall for clergy, funerals, or special events. Mary is famous for her roast beef and Yorkshire pudding which she has served the Cathedral Guild of St. Joseph (Holy Joes) and guests for many years. One can always depend of having crustless sandwiches at receptions, especially rolled asparagus ones, when Mary is involved!
Mary comes from Woodstock, NB. After four years at Mount Allison University, Mary studied to be a Medical Technologist in Saint John, and worked at the Saint John General Hospital. While there she met Bill while playing badminton, and they were married in 1951. Together, they have lived in Fredericton (with a period of seven years in Moncton), and raised a daughter. Mary is now the proud grandmother of two wonderful grandchildren, and one great granddaughter, Zoe, now three years old. Fortunately, all live in Fredericton, and they get together once a week for a family dinner.
Mary assists at the Cathedral in more than the kitchen – she is a member of the Cathedral Matters, and has beautiful handwork to show for it. For many years, Mary led a group of Brownies at the Cathedral Hall, and happily recalls some of the group who have now grown up.
This charming, remarkable lady was also inducted into the City of Fredericton Sports Wall of Fame last year at the Delta Hotel. Her photo still graces the walls there. This special honour recognizes Mary’s contribution to the game of Curling over 64 years. At the age of 92, Mary continues to curl. Now she calls it ‘stick curling’ where one pushes the rock with a stick, but it is tricky, because no brooms are used. She has represented NB many years at the National Senior Curling Championships and twice brought home the bronze medal. She was a Charter member of the Capital Winter Club and acted for several years as President of the Ladies section. In 2003, her rink won an “eight ender,” something not many curlers can boast about.
Mary has owned a beautiful cottage at Maquapit Lake in New Brunswick for many years, and annually helps to host a BBQ breakfast and also an auction to raise money for the local fire department. She frequently entertains large numbers both at her cottage and in her home.
Mary is always ‘on the go,’ works in her garden, plays bridge, does some travelling with the Cathedral Rug Hooking group and enjoys her family. When asked if she has ‘words of wisdom,’ she says, “Just keep busy.” She certainly takes her own advice.
When entering the living spaces of Cathedral faces Sandra and Harry Palmer, its impossible not to immediately notice the beautiful and well-kept gardens surrounding their home. Clearly, gardening is a passion. They have many.
They are a couple who have discerned a call to keep us on track with volunteering for readings and serving in various ways in worship at the Cathedral.
Sandra and Harry came to the Cathedral in 2005, and say they found it a very welcoming place, and have remained. Prior to that, they lived and worked for many years in Perth-Andover NB. Harry was a principal of several schools, and Sandra a laboratory technologist in charge of the lab at the hospital there.
Flowers at the Palmer’s
Harry grew up mainly in Fredericton Junction, living with his Grandmother. His Father had died when he was only ten. His Mother worked full-time. He has many fond memories of the place and the people there. He went to Teachers’ College in Fredericton, and immediately upon graduation, was appointed principal of Perth-Andover Elementary School. Since that time he gradually took courses at the University of New Brunswick, and St. Thomas University. He holds a degree of master of education from the University of Maine. They moved about, Harry working in various positions and eventually retired from the same school where he began teaching. After retirement, Sandra and Harry moved to Fredericton.
Sandra was born in Quebec, growing up mainly in Saint John, NB. She graduated from Saint John High School, and then from the School of Medical Technology.
Sandra and Harry in the 2017 Photo Directory
Sandra and Harry met on a blind date, and were married 50 years go this September, by Canon Walter Bockus in St. George’s Anglican Church in west Saint John. They have three children – Andrew and Kara are twins, are both married and living in Nova Scotia, and Quispamsis, NB, respectively. Their youngest is Katherine, married to Andy Rogers, and also members of the congregation at the Cathedral. Three grandchildren in their family are all girls!
A candid shot
Harry has delved into his family history and has amusing stories to tell about his British ancestry and how they came to settle in Maugerville NB, after living abroad in India, with the military.
Their interests are many having participated in Alpha twice, and minister in several ways from the Cathedral. Harry recently became part of the Bishop and Chapter Christian Formation Committee and still teaches a course at UNB when asked. The garden stands out as evidence of a care and attention to what God has made.
When asked if they had any “Words of Wisdom,” they both chuckled. However, in their experience, they feel strongly that it is important to tell anyone who has had a strong influence on one’s life or career, to tell that person how they have affected them. It just might make their day (or be the encouragement needed to keep making a difference).
Dalton and Sheila London are familiar faces around the Cathedral. Both participate in the choir, Sunday readings, and in Charis groups. Dalton is also a member of the Religious and Spiritual Care Department at the DECH, takes communion to shut-ins, is a eucharistic assistant, commissioned by the Bishop, and presides over Evening Prayer on Mondays. Lately the Londons have become even more familiar to the community as a result of a recent article in the DAILY GLEANER, about their experience getting back to Canada after cutting short their holiday in France due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Dalton was professor at UNB for 30 years, and has been retired for 22. However, it seems he is busier than ever. He volunteers regularly at the DECH, has a passion for photography, (Dalton has approximately 83,000 photos on their iMac), they are noted hosts (they frequently have guests for meals), love to garden, both are frequently seen at musical events and concerts, sing in the Cathedral choir, and are active participants in the lives of their grandchildren.
