Parker (Priest), Emma Jane – 90 years, passed away quietly on Friday, May 3, 2024 in Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Truro. Jane grew up in Diligent River. Her teaching career took her from the little Cannonville School in Diligent River to several other communities and finally to Upper Musquodoboit Consolidated School.
Teaching was her passion and as one of her former colleagues wrote: "Jane loved her work as a teacher. She remembered the name of every student she taught and could tell you a story about each and every one of them. Her legacy as a teacher lies in the lives of all the students she taught."
Jane married the man who saw her across a dance floor in Elderbank and he turned to his friend next to him and said: "See that girl in the red dress over there? I'm going to marry her." The friend told him that he hadn't even met the girl yet and why would he think she would want anything to do with him?
That man, George Parker and Jane did marry a couple of years later and remained each other's best friend and travel companion until George's death 36 years later. George and Jane loved to travel, mostly within Canada and the eastern United States. The one exception was a trip to explore Australia.
Jane had little interest in domestic chores but she loved good food and appreciated the fabulous meals prepared by her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. In later years, she and her friend, Jean Fisher were frequent diners at nearby restaurants. In addition to travel and good food, among her many other interests were the Saturday night horse races in Truro.
A friend wrote: "Jane always found the good in everyone and always had kind words to say about everyone she met." Her contributions and caring in life reached beyond her teaching career to include family, friends, neighbours, church, community and charities too numerous to mention, Furthermore, she had an ever-increasing community of feral cats she fed daily. In later years, a few found their way to become house cats and her constant companions.
Jane was predeceased by her husband George Austin Parker; her parents, Jess and Wilhelmina (Canning); sister, Mary Powell; and brother, Royden. She is survived by sisters, Christina (George), Carolyn (Elroy), Helen (Barry); and brothers, Charles (Pearl), Fred (Susan), and Harvey (Aileen); cousins, many nieces and nephews, grand and great grand nieces and nephews and friends young and old.
A deep gratitude to nephews, Joe and Vincent Parker for their enduring caring and support to Jane over many years. A special "Thank You" to Jane's loving and supportive neighbours, Debbie, Trevor and Shaun Graham. Shaun and his family became neighbours of George and Jane when Shaun was 6 years old. He and Jane found a kindred spirit in each other that endured for close to 40 years.
Thank you to Parkland, Truro and the staff who cared for Jane for the past 2 ½ years. A special thank you to the Colchester East Hants Health Centre doctors, nurses and other staff who lovingly cared for her during her last two months in life.
Her passing has left us with an overwhelming sadness but we take comfort in knowing she lived a happy and fulfilled life. We will always remember her beautiful smile and her easy, gentle laugh that spoke of the absolute joy she found in life’s smallest everyday things.
Arrangements are under the direction of Arimathea Funeral Cooperative.
Visitation will be from 1:00-1:45 followed by the service at 2:00 on Saturday, May 18, 2024 in Sharon Presbyterian Church, Dean. A reception will follow in the church hall. Interment will take place after the reception in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Upper Musquodoboit.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SPCA or a charity of choice or as a random act of kindness to a stranger.
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