Brown (Perry), Linda Frances - Linda Brown passed away one year ago in the morning of Wednesday, July 12, 2023 - on her own terms, in her own bed, and in her own Dartmouth home, as she wanted. The many messages and memories sent from around the world in the days before surely helped her soul take flight after a life full of adventure.
Linda dove into this world in London, England in 1946; the eldest child of the late Daphne (Fenton) and Christopher Perry. Her early years were spent in London and Scotland before the family settled in Qualicum Beach, BC. Linda’s professional life began with work at the Summerland Research Station in BC; then she moved to Ontario, where she became one of the first women stockbrokers in Toronto. She found her true calling as a social worker in Halifax with her MSW from Maritime School of Social Work, working in acute care, psychiatry, and community mental health. After her diagnosis of Stage 3C ovarian cancer in 2018, she joined the Patient Partners in Research Committee with Ovarian Cancer Canada, leaving a lasting impact through her work on the Patient Decision Aid Project and honoured posthumously with the 2023 Peggy Truscott Award.
Linda is survived by her loving partner of 25 years, Ruth Bruer, and the beagle clan they created after so many years of rescuing animals together. Predeceased by her two brothers, Craig Perry and Rudyard (Charlotte) Perry, she is survived by her half-sister, Enid Docherty; nieces, Yvonne (Kirk) Baker-Palmer, Laurie (Frank) Baranowski; and great-niece, Simone. In later years she reconnected with family in the UK, especially her cousin, John (Susan) Marshall and his sons Tim and Simon. She loved deeply all of the “children” who became part of her life with Ruth and it meant a lot to her that they have the happiest memories from all the Canada Day celebrations and 10 years of lavish Little Girls’ Christmas Tea Parties.
Linda will be remembered as a passionate lover of life; avid wilderness backpacker; long-distance cyclist and world traveller; humble ally to people with mental illness whom she considered the bravest people in the world; compassionate protector of all living creatures and nature, including many rescued animals; life-long learner of classical music and almost every other genre you can think of; eager debater of world-events; inquisitive conversationalist (especially of everything you might not want to discuss); fierce advocate for gay rights and LGBTQ2S issues, and most recently ovarian cancer research.
Linda summed up what she learned along her journey: “Best to try and live in the moment — happy, content and with purpose. To love friends and family deeply, To live with wonder and cherish the natural world because yes — it can all go sideways and turn very dark at any moment but it could also turn out to be totally the opposite and life transforming.”
A joyous Celebration of Life was held in Linda’s “small but mighty” garden in September 2023, inspired by dear friend Paul (Troy) Fougere. Many thanks to the teams from MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) and Palliative Care. Special love goes out to the entire Gynaecologic Oncology team in Halifax and the many researchers and Teal Sisters from Ovarian Cancer Canada. Please find it in your hearts to donate to Ovarian Cancer Canada who champion research to give women with ovarian cancer a fighting chance against this “silent killer.”
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