MARY TAIT (O’BRIEN) FRASER

From a life lived richly, fully and generously, Mary Tait O’Brien Fraser entered into eternal rest on December 30th, 2014 at her home in New Glasgow, NS, surrounded by her nearest and dearest.

Born in Toronto, ON on October 13th, 1919, she was the daughter of George Erle O’Brien and Hilda Dunlop Tait. She attended Brown School, Bishop Strachan School, Mount Allison University, and received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto in 1940. While at U of T, she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. Childhood summers and Christmases were spent at ‘Elmbank’, the home of her maternal grandparents in Shediac, NB. On December 27th, 1941, she married Chesley Drummond Fraser of New Glasgow, Second Lieutenant and later Captain in the Royal Canadian Artillery. The bride and groom honeymooned briefly in the Laurentians before Chesley returned to active duty in England. At the close of the war, they lived briefly in Halifax and then moved to New Glasgow to raise their family which eventually grew to seven: Peter, Jennifer, George, Bill, Brien, Meredith and Bronwyn.

Mary was tremendously proud of her O’Brien name and her Irish roots. However, they did little to prepare her for the quintessential Scottishness of Pictou County, where she promptly discovered that she was one of many ‘Mary Frasers.’ Continuing in the strong faith tradition of her forebears, she became involved in the life and ministry of Trinity United Church through the Women’s Missionary Society, later the United Church Women, from which she received a life membership, and also in the broader courts of the United Church of Canada. Her abiding interest in outreach and social justice made her a passionate supporter and promoter of the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church all her life. Her conviction that “where two or three are gathered” good things happen, led two of her children to enter the ministry.

She often welcomed students from the Coady Institute in Antigonish into the family home for holidays, and became an active volunteer for Tearmann House when it opened its doors in New Glasgow in 1984. She was subsequently honoured by the Pictou County Women’s Centre as one of “12 Women Who Made a Difference” in Pictou County - chiefly for her work with Tearmann. She was involved in sponsoring Vietnamese families to come to New Glasgow with their families. Her artistic and literary interests included the Nova Scotia Drama League, Scottish country dancing - and a love of good books. Her natural interests included a broad knowledge of wildflowers, birds and shells native to the Maritimes and to other climes as well.

Mary and Chesley were fortunate to travel to many parts of the world. Her relish of travel was intensified by her keen interest in the culture, cuisine and customs of diverse countries. It was a long time before any of her children realized that “whither thou goest, I will go” was Ruth speaking to Naomi in the bible, and not Mary speaking to Chesley as - ever ready for an adventure - she would drop whatever was to hand to accompany him to Knoydart, New Ross - or New Zealand. Homecomings were made the more joyous by ‘fishponds’ for her children of treasures and delights from faraway ports of call. Engaging letters and postcards invariably “written in haste” from across the world remain as precious as the letters “written in haste” while parked outside the old New Glasgow Post Office.

Her large, extended family – Chesley, children, grandchildren, daughters- and sons-in-law, siblings and cousins, nieces and nephews – remained her primary focus throughout her life. She took great pride in all their accomplishments, while remaining their staunchest defender when the chips were down. On one public occasion she referred to her children as her “seven shining achievements.”

A woman of strength, humour and insight, she did not hesitate to speak plainly when witness to frivolous carping or complaining among her offspring. “Rise above it” would come the admonition, and the offender would immediately comply. Her lived example of this maxim and her response to the inevitable heartaches that are in and of the human condition reflected her own innate ability to remain stalwart and maintain good cheer in the face of all.

Mary was predeceased by her beloved, Chesley; her eldest son, Peter; and her brother, George Allan O’Brien. Her death is mourned and her life is celebrated by Jennifer and Derek Grout, New Glasgow; George and Nora Fraser, New Glasgow: Bill and Gloria Fraser, Lanark; Brien Fraser and Michele Vyge-Fraser, Halifax; Meredith Fraser, Quarry Island; Bronwyn and Bill Bagnell, Quarry Island; Libby (Fraser) Cassidy, Fredericton; sister, Carolyn T. (O’Brien) MacIntosh, New Glasgow; and by grandchildren: Patrick (and Amy) Grout; Andrew Grout; Allan Fraser (and Meghan Mulcahy); Mairi Fraser (and Jeremy Parent); Sam Fraser; Drummond Fraser (and Terri Cundy); Beth Fraser; Peter (and Natalie) Fraser; Meredith Fraser; Jock Fraser; Mary Bagnell; Adam Fraser; Caroline Fraser; and great-grandchildren: Ezra Mulcahy; Fiona Grout; Eamonn Fraser; Benjamin Fraser.

The family would like to express thanks to Alyson MacDonald, Maureen MacIvor, Deborah Hosking, Joyce Roode, Alma Rogers and Sandy Hart who graced Mary’s days and nights with skill, care and affection; and to Elsie Sample, who helped raise her brood.
Visitation will take place at H. W. Angus Funeral Home, 256 King Street, New Glasgow on Sunday, January 4th from 2-4 and from 7-9PM. Funeral service will be held on Monday, January 5th at 2:00PM at Trinity United Church, New Glasgow, officiated by the Rev. Donna Tourneur. A reception will follow at the family home. Interment will take place at a later date in Greenwood Cemetery, Shediac. In place of flowers, gifts to the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church of Canada, c/o Trinity United Church, 151 Temperance St, New Glasgow, NS B2H 3A9; The Tearmann Society, P.O. Box 153, New Glasgow, NS B2H 5E2; or The Stephen Lewis Foundation, 260 Spadina Avenue, Suite 501, Toronto ON M5T 2E4, will be much appreciated.