Obituary of Mildred Gladys Irvine

Mildred Gladys (Francis) Irvine On May 27, 2020, at the age of 100, Mildred died peacefully in Parkland’s Fergus Hall, Truro. She was born in Plymouth Park, Pictou County on January 28th, 1920 to parents William and Anna (Johnson) Francis. Mildred graduated from New Glasgow High School and furthered her education at Acadia University where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts (English) and her Bachelor of Education degrees. She began her teaching career in Bass River and also taught at Bedford High School, Sydney Academy and Queen Elizabeth High School in Halifax, where she became one of the first guidance counsellors in the province of Nova Scotia. Mildred was married for fifty years to Tom Irvine who predeceased her in 2011. When Mildred and Tom retired they moved to St. Stephen, NB. Known for their philanthropy, they established the Thomas and Mildred Irvine Scholarship at Acadia University, created the Dr. Stewart Wenning (a dear friend) Chair in Pediatric Pain Management at the IWK Health Center and supported the True Patriot Love Military Foundation, as well various other organizations that touched their hearts. Mildred and Tom made many trips to Europe and especially enjoyed visiting war memorials and attending ceremonies celebrating our war heroes. They wintered in Florida and drove there themselves till their late eighties. They would golf everyday they could, both in Florida and Calais, Maine. Mildred is survived by her brother, Harvey Francis (Reno, Nevada). Besides her husband Tom, Mildred was predeceased by her parents, William & Anna Francis; sisters, Vera (Cliff) Bain and Hilda (Bill) Beaudry; brothers, Walter, Bill (Eunie), and Ed (Betty) Francis; and niece Norma Francis. She is survived by her nieces, Mary (Peter) Bernier, Halifax; Marjorie Rose, Halifax; Eileen (David) English, Sutherland’s River; Joan Manuel, St. Stephen, NB; Lynn (Ken) Kelley, St. Stephen, NB; Miriam (Ron) Malek, San Antonio, Texas; nephews, Bill (Bonnie) St. Stephen, NB; Bob, Toronto; Ken (Carol) Stellarton; and Owen, New Glasgow. The family would like to thank the staff of Parkland’s Fergus Hall, Truro for their kind, compassionate care of Mildred over the past five years. Burial took place on Monday, June 1st at the Heatherdale Memorial Gardens, Alma, NS. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, a celebration of life will be held at a later date at the Christ Anglican Church, Stellarton. Arrangements are entrusted to H.C. MacQuarrie Funeral Home in Stellarton, N.S. “To live in the hearts of those we leave behind, is not to die”. www.angusfuneralhomes.com