WRIGHT, ANNIE MARY
“A Special Aunt is an angel who follows you through life.”
Annie Mary Wright, 98, of Shepody, passed away peacefully on Dec. 17, 2015 with her family by her side at Forest Dale Home, Riverside-Albert, NB. Annie was born in Shepody on September 24, 1917, the only daughter of Harvey and Bertha (West) Wright.
She attended Hopewell Hill Superior School for Grades 1-8, receiving the Lieutenant-Governor's Medal for achieving the highest marks in Albert County when she wrote the high school entrance exams. At the age of 15 she graduated from Riverside Consolidated School, being the valedictorian of the 1933 graduating class and receiving both the Birk's Medal and the Governor General's Award. Exceptionally brilliant she also achieved the highest marks in the NB matriculation exams in 1933.
She received the Lord Beaverbrook Scholarship, graduating from the University of New Brunswick in 1937 with a Bachelor of Arts with 1st Division Honours. Upon receiving a National Research Council Grant, Annie attended McGill University for graduate studies in genetics, receiving her Masters of Science degree in 1941.
Her teaching career spanned many years – from teaching at the New Horton School, Montreal public schools, Hillsborough High School, Riverside Consolidated School and Salisbury Regional High School. After retirement from the regular classroom, she was in constant demand to tutor students especially in mathematics and the sciences, because she had the “gift of helping students make sense of what they were learning”.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her three brothers, Hillman, Hubert and Carl, sisters-in-law, Alice May and Elsie and a nephew Harvey.
Annie will be deeply missed by her nieces, Dawne McLean (Roger) of Shepody, Connie Sarchfield (Darrel) of Boundary Creek, Bonna Bouchie of Upper Coverdale, Janet Elder (Terry) of Etobicoke ON, and Cecilia Snow (Joel) of Picadilly, NB; her nephews Sterling Wright (Dawn) of Cornwall, PE, and Scott Wright of Riverside-Albert; six great nieces, Stephanie, Alicia, Katelyn, Christine, Joanna, Margaret; five great nephews, Bradley, Andrew, William, Matthew, David; two great great nieces, Juniper and Abigael; sister-in-law, Jean; first cousins Judith (Wright) Hutton, William and James West, as well as extended family members, her many dear friends and her Forest Dale Home family of the past two and a half years.
Annie was the oldest member of the Hopewell Hill Baptist Church. Baptised at the age of thirteen, throughout her life she maintained her steadfast faith in the Lord. She was a member of the Annie Laura Peck missionary society and had served as a Sunday School teacher, church trustee and delegate to the Atlantic Baptist Convention. In years past she was very active in the Hopewell Hill Women's Institute and had travelled to Kenya to an International Women's Institute Convention. She had served as an Albert County Exhibition director.
Annie made a lasting impression and gained the respect of everyone she met or talked with. She was unique in every way ~ from her smile and laugh, her wit and frankness, her intellect and amazing memory, her generosity and independent strength. She was an avid reader and enjoyed CBC radio. She was known for her love of cats who were her constant companions. She was a “life long learner” and always “young at heart”. Everyone who knew Annie will treasure their own special memories.
Annie was blessed with good health into her eighties, living independently at home, due in great part to the support and kindness provided by her neighbours, doctors, extra mural nurses, and especially her care-giver, Sherry Woodworth. The family also extends their appreciation and thanks to the staff at Forest Dale Home for the excellent care and special attention given to Annie.
Following Annie's wishes her body has been donated to Medical Science at Dalhousie University Halifax, NS. A Memorial Service to celebrate Annie's remarkable life will be announced at a later date.
In Annie's memory the family would appreciate donations to the McGill University Faculty of Science (www.mcgill.ca/give or call 1-800-567-5175), the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Science (www.unb.ca/donations/give/ or call 506-453-5053), Hopewell Cemetery, Hopewell Hill Baptist Church or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Online condolences and memorial donations may be made through the Albert County Funeral Home, 734-2780 www. albertcountyfh.com