Melanie MacLennan Fraser
Born In: Millville, Canada
Passed on: January 18th, 2013
We regret to announce the peaceful passing of Melanie MacLennan Fraser, 45, on Jan. 18, 2013, after a lengthy illness.
Melanie was the eldest child of the late Melvin and Eldene (MacLellan) MacLennan of Millville.
Melanie leaves behind her husband, Wm. ‘Bill’, eldest son Ian and twins Abby and Colin, at home. Also remaining are her brother Charles (Crystal) and nephew Lawson; sister Deanne and niece Tiffany; sister-in-law Lisa (Andrew) Mason and niece Andie, Bradford, Ont.; mother and father-in-law William and Mary Fraser of South Bar; as well as many uncles, aunt and cousins.
An occupational therapist by profession, Melanie was a graduate of Cape Breton University (BSc 1988) and the University of Western Ontario (BScOT 1991). Well respected by her peers and loved by the clients she served, she set the bar high in terms of compassion and professionalism.
A tremendously positive person, Melanie possessed an amazing ability to see good in everyone she met and as a result she amassed an incredible and diverse group that was proud to be her friend.
Prior to her illness Melanie was an avid volunteer serving as a President of the Cape Breton Chapter of the Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia and as the longtime treasurer of the Seton Elementary School Parent Teacher Advisory Council.
Above all, Melanie was devoted to her children, marshalling an unbelievable will and spirit to see them get a good start in life despite an illness that permeated but didn’t dominate her last 5.5 years.
Visitation for Melanie will be 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, at St. John United Church, Big Bras d’Or, with Diane Kempt DLM officiating. Burial will take place in Lakeside Cemetery, North Sydney, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the An Cala Palliative Care unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.
Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com.
