Marion
"Joyce" (Whitman) O'Brien - Age 89, Truro. We are
saddened to announce the passing of Joyce O’Brien that
occurred on Saturday evening, February 4, 2017, at Cedarstone Enhanced
Care, Truro, surrounded, supported and comforted by all three of her
children and family. Born in East Inglisville, near Lawrencetown,
Annapolis County, she was the sixth daughter of the late Guilford C.
and Linda Mae (Malcolm) Whitman.
Joyce had a powerful and life-long drive to learn, help
others (particularly children), witness her faith through action and
minister in many capacities within the United Church of
Canada. At the age of 13 she left home, a small isolated
family farm, so she could continue her high school education in
Lawrencetown, working for her board as she did. She went on
to attend Acadia University where she studied theology and graduated
with her diploma in 1950, an impressive accomplishment for a woman of
few means in the post-war period. She loved her time at
Acadia where she also pursued her love of
drama.
Her degree in
Theology was finally conferred in 1992. She received her
degree itself in the same mail as her first Old Age Pension cheque and
as she was beginning her ministry at the charge in Doaktown, New
Brunswick. Early in life, she dreamed of becoming a missionary to help
children in India. She found her first calling working at
the Glad Tidings Mission, part of Exmouth St. United Church in Saint
John, New Brunswick, where she worked with severely disadvantaged
inner-city kids and their mothers. She introduced them to
camping at Camp Wegesegum and the joy of nature, both of which were
passions of hers. In 1959 she married Rev. Allison O’Brien
who was serving the Millstream United Church charge near Sussex, New
Brunswick. They went on to serve the charges of
Waverley-Wellington-Windsor Junction and Tryon, Prince Edward Island.
They raised three children and took them on many trailer-based
vacation trips throughout the Maritimes as well as Boston, Ontario and
expo67 in Montreal. Joyce was a life-long supporter of CGIT (Canadian
Girls In Training). Beginning as a member, she went on to
lead many groups and camps as well as work at the national level
organization. She also worked at Saint Andrews United Church in Truro
as a Christian education leader, including Messengers. Beginning in
the mid-1980s, Joyce took on the role of Lay Pastoral Minister and
served the McCulloch United Church in Harmony-Camden, near Truro, for
six years and then the St. Thomas United Church, Doaktown, New
Brunswick charge for three years, finally retiring in 1995 at the
tender age of nearly 68.
Berwick Camp
was also a long-time passion; she attended Berwick Camp annually,
beginning in 1954 and missing only two years (1967 and
2015). In her retirement, she took great pleasure in being
able to spend time with all her five grandchildren, nurturing, playing
and watching them grow into the fine people they are today. A final
life-long passion of Joyce’s was dolls, of which she had
quite a collection. On two occasions, she displayed her collection to
raise money for a women’s charity in Guatemala.
She is
survived by her sons, Timothy (Nancy) O’Brien, Waverley;
Andrew (Helen) O’Brien, Truro; daughter, Ruth Anne (Kevin)
O’Brien-Fisher, Upper North River; grandsons, Connor, Ian,
Sean, Jason; granddaughter, Ava; sister, Lillian LeRue, Halifax;
sister-in-law, Miriam "Middie" Whitman, Bridgetown;
brother-in-law, John Blackwell, Dartmouth; special niece, Shirley
Whitman, Halifax; many nieces, nephews and their families as well as a
wide circle of friends. Along with her parents, she was predeceased by
her husband, Rev. Allison Hawley O’Brien; sisters, Josie
Hood, Eleanor Retherford, Claire Whitman, Erna Rawding, Miriam
"Mimi" Blackwell; brothers, Malcolm and Charlie in infancy.
Joyce’s family would like to thank Dr. Suraiya Rafiq for her
excellent care over the many years, Becky Langille and staff at the
senior’s clinic as well as the staff at Parkland Estates
(Fergus Hall Assisted Living) and Cedarstone Enhanced Care for their
care over the past 18 months.
Arrangements
have been entrusted to Mattatall - Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young
Street, Truro, where Joyce's family will receive friends from 6-8
p.m., Wednesday, February 8, 2017. Memorial service will be held 2
p.m., Thursday, February 9, 2017, in Saint Andrew's United Church, 55
King Street, Truro, Keith Selwyn-Smith, DLM officiating. Reception and
ice cream social to follow in the foyer. Spring interment in Noel
Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce’s memory to
Berwick Camp are welcomed. Private messages of condolence may be sent
to the family by viewing Joyce’s obituary on-line and
selecting "Send A Condolence" at:
www.mattatallvarnerfh.com