Obituary of Fannie Frances Urquhart
The family of Fannie Frances Urquhart (Welch) wants to let you know that she passed peacefully on February 22, 2023 at the age of 88, with her son and daughters by her side, on to a renewed life, on the water we’re sure.
Fannie’s life began on October 11, 1934, spending her first six years on Peter’s Island, Nova Scotia as the daughter of Percy and Ada Welch (McDormand), where Percy was the lighthouse keeper. Being the only family on the island, with her two sisters and three brothers, the water was their source of entertainment, livelihood, solace and challenge as well as their method of transportation to the “mainland” of Brier Island, Nova Scotia, where the family moved to in 1940. In 1951, at the age of 17, she headed to Saint John to work in the banking industry, where she met and married her husband of 48 years, Cyril Charles Urquhart, on October 13, 1956. As much as the water brought life to Fannie, it also brought sadness when it took the lives of her brothers, David in 1959 and Gerald in 1963, being fishermen lost at sea.
Cyril and Fannie raised their three children in Saint John with many summer visits back to Brier Island with her last visit being in 2017 with her two daughters and grandson. Growing up on two isolated islands resulted in many interesting stories which Fannie captured in a book she wrote “A Family’s Story of Life on Peters Island Lighthouse Station & Westport, Brier Island, Nova Scotia” that was donated to the Westport Library on Brier Island.
Fannie enjoyed a good lobster roll and remained astute in everything from a game of crib to a riveting political discussion to making sure she always had a Wi-Fi password. She enjoyed the many get-togethers with her children and their extended families and took great pride in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Fannie will be remembered by her daughters, Debbie Cusack (Dan), Linda Hickey (Mike) and son Percy Urquhart (Gillian), her grandchildren, Jennifer Goldsworthy (Kevin), Katelyn Shaw, Heather Cusack, Christine Cusack, David Hickey, Patrick Hickey, Greg Urquhart, Jason Urquhart, and Jessica Urquhart and great-grandchildren Kaley Shaw and Cohen Shaw. Fannie was the last member of her family to leave this world following her parents, husband, sisters Freda Morton and Vera Hines, and brothers Berton, David and Gerald. Many memories will be carried on by Fannie’s nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends, with special mention of her son’s mother-in-law Julie Hughes, nieces Karen Urquhart and Donna Hines, nephew Barry Morton and his wife Pat.
Fannie wanted to ensure her, and our family’s, deepest gratitude is given to the caring teams at the Sea Street Care Home, the St. John St. Stephen Nursing Home and the Palliative Care Unit at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Heartfelt mention to Dr. Linda Stephenson for her exemplary care and support for over 25 years, long time care provider Dr. Buick of Cardiology and Dr. Christian Mackin for his compassionate care during her stay in Palliative Care.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Sherwood’s Funeral Home and Life Tribute Centre (839-2156) 18 Scovil Road, Norton, NB. At Fannie’s request, all services will be held privately with the family. Interment will take place in the spring at Kiersteadville Cemetery, Kiersteadville, NB, where Fannie will be laid to rest with her husband.
In lieu of flowers, Fannie’s wishes were that donations would be made to the Kiersteadville Cemetery Fund, Bobby’s Hospice or an organization of meaning to the donor. See a full tribute to Fannie’s life, send condolences to the family and make donations all through SherwoodsFuneralHome.com
