Obituary of Dorothy Anne Vachon

VACHON- Dorothy Anne Vachon passed away at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Wednesday, June 24, 2009. Dorothy was born in McAdam, N.B. in 1933, the tenth child of the late William L. and Kathleen (Costigan) Warner. Having gradated from St. Vincent's High School and Saint John High School, Dorothy Anne trained as a nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital and then completed her B. Sc. at Ottawa University on a scholarship from the Victorian Order of Nurses, for whom she worked in Moncton following her graduation. The VON remained an organization that Dorothy admired and contributed to for many years, notably as a member of the Board. She pursued post-graduate studies in occupational health and acquired a level 'C' in French and joined Health and Welfare Canada in 1977 where for the next 17 years she enjoyed a second nursing career and the many talented people with whom she was associated. In 1957 she married Pierre, whom she had met at Ottawas University, and together they raised four children in successive homes on Ottawa, Quebec City, Hull, and Fredericton. They retired in Saint John in 1990 and soon moved to a home overlooking the Bay in West Saint John. For Dorothy Anne this was the dearly realized dream of coming home to Duck Cove. Viewing service to one's community as a way of life, Dorothy Anne tirelessly volunteered in Fredericton, Hull, Ottawa, and finally Saint John, serving on the board of the New Brunswick Museum Foundation, founding Rocmaura Auxiliary, and for many years delivering Meals-On-Wheels in Saint John. She was an active member of the Eclectic Reading Club, a patron and volunteer with Symphony NB, and a great fan of Opera NB and the Saint John Arts Centre. She was a fiercely proud member of the Irish Canadian Cultural Association. A great proponent of congenial and sometimes very elaborate gatherings, Dorothy lived to entertain. From beach-front bonfires and bridge parties to twelve-course meals, her gregarious and friendly manner defined her personality. She relished a good argument and she was a thoughtful and profoundly devoted Catholic. She was predeceased by three sisters, Lenore Warner, Marie La Forest (Hon. Gerald V. La Forest), and Margaret Brown (Christopher Brown, deceased); and four brothers, William Warner (Lilly Harman, deceased), the Rev. Father Donald Warner, John Warner, Q.C. (Anna Hughes, deceased), and Dr. Alfred Warner (Barbara Hughes). Besides her husband, she is survived by their children, Michel Pierre Vachon (Amy Heron) of Ottawa, Christianne (Stephen Horgan) of Saint John, Marie Danielle of Ottawa, and Suzanne (Greg Charlton) of Fredericton; her dearly beloved grandchildren, Lindsay Kearney of Vancouver, Maximilian and Willem Monkhouse of Ottawa, and Ania Gruszewski of Fredericton, for all of whom she was a teacher, protector and a huge source of fun; one brother, Clifford Warner, and on sister, Eileen (Bliss Cole), both of Saint John; and several nieces and nephews. Our most grateful thanks to Dr. Ruth Ingersoll, Dr. Jo-Anne Attard, Dr. Margot Burnell, Dr. Brian Johnston, and Dr. Chris O'Brien who, together with the nurses and support staff of the Regional's Palliative Care Unit took such good care of her during the final stages of her life. Resting at Fitzpatrick's Funeral Home, 100 Waterloo St., with visiting on Thursday from 7 to 9 and on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday morning at ten o'clock. Interment will take place in St. Joseph's Cemetery. We are very grateful for any donation to charity that relatives and friends may wish to make in Dorothy Anne's name.