Russell, Maureen Marie –Age 86, of Clam Harbour passed away November 6, 2020 in Twin Oaks Memorial Hospital. Born in DeBaie’s Cove, she was the youngest and last surviving member of nine children of the late Albert Barton and Emma Louise (Long) DeBaie.
She left home at the young age of 14 to help care for young families and children in the community. Over the years, she had a variety of jobs where she worked at Seapool Fisheries, Lake Charlotte, preparing product for shipping and also the Clam Harbour Clam Factory. She worked for several years side by side at Webber’s, a family owned store, in Lake Charlotte, as a cook, server and jack of all trades. She also worked at Moir’s Chocolate Factory and in later years, worked alongside her husband delivering mail for Canada Post. She had a deep passion for helping others and had the intuition to know just what was needed at the right time. This was a natural ability used with anyone who would call upon her.
Maureen led a busy life, knitting, sewing, cooking, baking bread and was known to be the best fudge maker on the Eastern Shore. She was an avid reader who also enjoyed doing crosswords, singing and playing guitar, telling jokes and making people laugh and was known to have an incredible “green thumb” and one who would NEVER turn down just one more slip, regardless of the jungle room she already had created.
She was a member of Clam Harbour United Church and later First United in Musquodoboit Harbour. She spent many years as a volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society, joined the Oyster Pond Fire Department, Ladies Auxiliary, and for many years until 2019 volunteered at Memory Lane, Heritage Village, Lake Charlotte.
She was an incredibly strong-willed, compassionate, beautiful lady who had a deep love for her children. Holding her very close in their hearts are daughter, Nancy (Seldon); son, Stephen (Linda); daughter, Colette; grandchildren, Courtney, Stephanie (Shawn), Kelly (Mark), Kyle (Jennifer), Jody and Stacey (David); as well as nine great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews from Canada and USA.
She was predeceased by husband, Burris “Bub” Franklyn Russell; son, Richard Franklyn Russell; siblings, Douglas (Margaret), Fred (Jenny), Elsie (Ken), Nelson (Annie), twins, Mabel (Jack) and Ambrose (Mary), Nanette (George), Maurice (Frances).
Cremation has taken place under the direction of Arimathea Funeral Cooperative, Upper Musquodoboit.
Due to COVID restrictions, a private by “invitation only” Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. A larger gathering of remembrance of Maureen's life will hopefully be able to be held in 2021 at a time when it is safe to do so.
A very special thank you to the staff of Twin Oaks Memorial Hospital, Rev. Joan Griffin and Arimathea Funeral Home. The professionalism and genuine compassion you all have given has helped to pave the road for healing. Without all of you, this journey would have been so much more difficult. Thank you from the depths of our hearts.
Memorial donations may be made to Twin Oaks Memorial Hospital or Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia.
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My soul honours your soul and spirit.
I honour the place in you where the entire Universe resides.
I honour the light, love, truth, beauty and peace within you,
because it is also within me.
In sharing these things, we are always united, we are the same.
We are one.
