Marie Kerrigan
Passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family at the VG hospital in Halifax on Thursday June 12, 2014.

She was born in Glace Bay on March 25, 1942 to the late Steve and Mame Cameron.

Marie graduated from St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, Glace Bay in 1963 and became a Registered Nurse. She nursed in several hospital settings until she found an especially rewarding professional niche with the Victorian Order of Nurses, Pictou County Branch in 1975. She worked for 12 years giving patients care in their homes. Then, she received special training in foot care and opened one of the first VON Foot Care Clinics in Nova Scotia at the Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow. She retired in 1997.

Marie was a loving and supportive wife and mother. Her family was the center of her universe and received the highest priority. Her special touch and caring presence will be sorely missed.

Marie was a lifelong musician. At an early age she discovered her voice and began singing the Latin Mass daily in her home parish St. John the Baptist, Glace Bay. She continued singing her entire adult life in many choral groups including the Pictou County Choral Society, Noteable Friends, Bedford Singers, Chebucto Community Singers, the acapella group Noteable and the Tattoo Choir. She also played piano, flute in the Pictou County Brass and Reed Band, drums in the MacDonald Hundred at the opening of the Canso Causeway. Whether Ballroom, Jive or Highland she was a dazzling dancer.

Marie had a special gift for creating and organizing enjoyable social events with her wide circle of friends. She was the proverbial “life of the party”. She organized a multi year high school reunion for St. Michael High School in Glace Bay in the summer of 2000. Many predicted that fewer than a hundred would attend – 800 showed up and had a ball. If there was no holiday or special event to celebrate, Marie could stir enthusiasm for celebrating almost anything even the season's first snowstorm.

Her great creativity found many outlets over the years in the arts and crafts. There are Lopi sweaters and afghans in abundance that attest to this. Artfully fired ceramics grace many homes. Particularly treasured are her oil paintings. She leaves behind many mementos into which she poured hours of love.

After a working career largely in Pictou County, Marie retired with her family to Halifax. She found new outlets for her energy in Saint Benedict Parish, the Seniors College of Nova Scotia, the Halifax Norfolk Sister Cities Society, the Woodbury Condominium
Social Committee and, of course her music. She was especially fond of volunteering to assist travelers every Sunday evening as a member of the Tartan Team at the airport.



She was a knowledgeable sports fan and attended many university football and basketball games. Concerts, dramas and shows were also a regular part of her life. She also felt the lure of travel enjoying tours and cruises especially to Europe. In her younger years she brought her real talent for creating a comfy nest to the family campers and, then, cruising the Bras D'or Lakes on the coziest power
boat anyone had seen.

Marie was predeceased by an infant daughter, Mary, her parents and a sister, Jacqueline McIntyre (Reg).

She is survived by her husband, Matthew Kerrigan, a daughter Joanne Kerrigan (Halifax), a son Brian Kerrigan (Abu Dhabi, UAE), and two brothers Greg Cameron (Ottawa) and Jim Cameron (Halifax and Glace Bay).

Sincerest thanks to many friends who extended kindness and support to the family over the course of Marie's illness. The family also wishes to thank the staff of the oncology and palliative wards of the VG Hospital for the Tender Loving Care they gave Marie.

A funeral Mass and memorial service with reception for Marie will be held at St. Benedict Parish, 44 Radcliffe Dr. Halifax on Wednesday June 18th at 10:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers donations in Marie’s memory may be made to QEII HSC VG site Palliative Care Music Therapy Program or Chalice, http://www.chalice.ca .