It is with sadness the family announces the passing of our dear Mum, Emily Saunders at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre after a brief illness. She was 94.
Emily was born and raised in Moncton and went on to attend Mount Allison University and the Royal Victoria Hospital School of Nursing, training as a surgical nurse. While visiting her aunt and uncle in New Glasgow, she met our dad. Mum was blessed to have married the love of her life George for sixty years. They were truly best friends and true partners in everything they did. Dad's surgical training began at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Boston at the Lahey Clinic, his practice in Sackville, NB and finally in Amherst where they raised their three boys and finally a girl! Mum was selfless in supporting dad's career as a surgeon and working as his Office Manager for over twenty years. Mum was also a wonderful caregiver attending to her own mother until her passing at age 99 3/4 years.
Mum enjoyed golf, badminton, dogs, cats, piano, cooking, sewing, a good game of bridge with friends, spending time at their cottage at Tidnish, critiquing a good seafood chowder (but hold the potatoes), exercising daily, her volunteer work with the Amherst Hospital Auxiliary entertaining and travel. Mum and Dad enjoyed their retirement life in Port Charlotte and Sun City, Florida. They loved their travel adventures to the Caribbean, Europe, Russia and North America. After Dad's passing, Mum and daughter Joan enjoyed wonderful cruises to Alaska, the Mediterranean and East and West Caribbean. Mum recently said if she could have changed her career choice she would have been an architect. It was Mum who helped design their dream home in Amherst, proudly built by their son George. Recently the gazebo in the gardens at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre was donated by Mum and Dad, something she was very proud of.
Dad's hectic schedule required Mum in the early years to take charge of raising four children (3 in diapers at once!). Mum was a wonderful role model. Mum's grandchildren were asked words to describe their Nanna and the words they used - she loved her family, kind, curious, a lady, spunky, clever, helpful, quite tenacious and earnest. A close family friends said Mum was "always well turned out". She always loved a well matched outfit and even in her nineties could pull off "a skirt above the knee." Mum always looked forward to her son David visiting from the USA and was happy to have sons George and Bruce nearby.
Mum leaves behind sons George of Amherst; Bruce (Diana) of Amherst; David (Linnea) of Gainsville, Florida; daughter Joan (Alan Gibson) of Truro. She is also survived by ten grandchildren George V (Ashley) of Amherst; Clair and Sarah of England; Dr. Neil Saunders (Sarah) of Georgia; Paul Saunders of Utah; Alex Gibson (Sarah) of Newfoundland; Angus Gibson (Rachel) of Halifax; Andrew Gibson of Quebec; AJ of Truro; Celine of the Yukon; 10 great grandchildren, niece Catherine Epstein (Michael) of Vancouver; nephew Jamie (Gayle) Saunders of Halifax and dear friend Edie Purdy of Amherst.
Mum was predeceased by her parents, Clair and Irene, husband Dr. George Saunders; brother Robert Blackett and sister-in-law Astrid; sister-in-law Estelle Saunders; brother-in-law James Saunders and sister-in-law Jean; long time companion Eanis Collins as well as nieces Karen and Barbara Anne and great grand daughter, Ashley.
The family is extremely grateful for the kind, compassionate care Mum received while living at Fergus Hall, Parkland Estates in Truro since relocating from Amherst in 2019. You are all truly angels on Earth! Thank you for the kindness and gentle care from the Palliative Care team and the staff at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Dr. Murray McCrossin for his years of support and care of our dear Mum, Dr. Sarbjit Singh and VON - Amherst and Truro.
Mum, always pragmatic and in her sensible and no nonsense way would say - "No one lives forever" and "It's always good to have some younger friends".
Arrangements have been entrusted to Jones Family Funeral Centre, 70 Church Street in Amherst (902-667-8777). Honoring Mum's wishes, there will be no funeral service. A celebration of Mum's life will be held this summer when hopefully family and friends can safely gather.
Those wishing to make a donation, please consider donating to the Cumberland Regional Health Care Foundation or the Colchester East Hants Health Centre Foundation or a charity of your choice in memory of our mother.
Sharing of memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the online memorial at www.jonesfamilyfuneralcentre.ca or through the Jones Family Funeral Centre Facebook Page.
