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Ann Marie SUTHERLAND nee Walker

September 28, 2011

Sutherland

September 27, 1926 – September 28, 2011

Ann passed away peacefully at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Wednesday after a brief battle with cancer. Left to mourn is her daughter, Katherine Anne Newell living in Qualicum Beach and two granddaughters, Heather Mary Newell, residing in Australia and Jillian Michelle Newell of Qualicum Beach. Fortunately Heather was visiting Qualicum Beach at the time of her grandmother’s illness and had an opportunity to spend time with her before she passed. Also left to mourn is her family in Nova Scotia, her brother Charles T. (Frances) Walker, sisters Eva Dow and Doris (Syd) McNaughton and in Abbotsford, BC her brother Phillip (Joyce) Walker and numerous nieces and nephews across Canada. Ann was born in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia on September 27, 1926 to Newell and Harriet Walker into a family of six children.

She had many fond memories of growing up on the farm surrounded by family and friends. One of her favourite activities was ice skating which she continued to enjoy throughout her life. She graduated from Bridgetown High School and then attended her Aunt Nelly’s business school which led to her working as a legal secretary in Halifax, NS. She would often tell us of the excitement of living in Halifax during WWII as Halifax harbour served as an essential naval base for Allied warships. Ann was very vivacious and fun-loving and enjoyed attending the many dances in Halifax during the war. Ann later moved to BC and worked as a legal secretary for Ron MacIsaac in Nanaimo and where she met and married Thomas M. Sutherland in 1955. They moved to Vancouver where Tom opened his law practice. They had two children, Katherine Anne (b.Nov 5, 1956) and Jacqueline Marie (Jan 10, 1962 – Jan 8, 2009). They lived in North Vancouver and later in Shaughnessy and were members of the Point Grey Golf Club and the Arbutus Club. They would often visit the Island Hall Resort Hotel in Parksville, Vancouver Island, which Tom’s mother, Mary Sutherland owned and operated. Divorced in 1967, Ann moved to Kitsilano and continued working as a legal secretary. She retired to Vancouver Island in the 1980’s to be near her family. Her greatest sorrows were losing her younger daughter Jacquie, to cancer at the age of 46 and losing her brother Jimmy due to a heart attack. Ann will always be remembered for her ability to make people laugh, her kind and gentle nature and her nickname of ‘Knomer’. She brightened the lives she touched.

Thanks to the staff at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for the care given to Ann.

YATES FUNERAL SERVICE & CREMATORIUM (250-248-5859) in care of arrangements.



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