Francis 'Frank' R. Sutherland
Born In: St. Peters, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: Lynches River, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: April 1st, 2011
Francis ‘Frank’ R. Sutherland, 69, of Lynches River, Richmond County, bid adieu to his family and friends on April 1, 2011.
Born in St. Peters, he was the second eldest son of Ambrose and Rose (Sampson) Sutherland.
After completing high school he moved to Halifax to establish a career, which extended over a period of 34 and a half years. Beginning with the survey department he transferred to the traffic eng division and eventually to the design eng division of the Engineering and Works Department. He retired in 1994 as an engineering assistant. While in the Halifax area, he met and married his late wife Dolena (Matheson). They built their home in Lower Sackville, N.S., where they resided for 27 years. They were blessed with three lovely girls, Dianne, Debbie and Danica. While in Sackville, Frank and Dolena were both very active in the development of the community. He was a municipal councillor for Halifax County from 1976-95 as well as the deputy warden/mayor. He was president of the City of Halifax Inside Workers for a period of five years and chair of the Metro Employees Council (Police-Fire, Transit) for two years. He served on the board of directors of the Halifax Civic Credit Union.
He was chairman of the Sackville Community Council and president of the Sackville Sports Heritage Society. He was a founding member of the Sackville Jaycees where he served as a regional director and eventually was rewarded with a Senatorship, the highest rank in the organization. He and Dolena both volunteered with the Sackville Cancer Unit, Meals on Wheels, the Down East Old Time fiddling contest and Sackville’s Food CO-OP Project.
Following retirement and his relocation to Lynches River, a place he described as heaven on earth, he served as a member of the Strait Richmond Hospital Foundation as well as the hospital’s Seniors Advisory Board. On different occasions he served as chair of the St. Peters Parish Pastoral Council and chair of the Holy Guardian Angels/Immaculate Conception Parish Councils. He was also a lecturer and choir member at said parishes. He was a 4th degree member of the Pere Vincent KOC Club as well as their former financial secretary. He served terms as secretary and president of the Bonnie Brae Seniors Club. He was also an associate Justice of the Peace.
He was predeceased by his parents and wife Dolena on Feb. 6, 2010.
He is survived by daughters, Dianne, Alberta, Debbie (Jerry Guest), Yorkton, Sask., and Danica (Mike Brown), Lower Sackville, N.S. As well, he leaves behind his precious grandchildren who were a great source of pride for both him and Dolena. He is also survived by brothers, John (Trudy), St. Peters, Michael (Lynda) Sydney, Victor (Mildred), Nine Mile River, Patrick (Sharon) St. Peters; sisters, Beatrice Morrison (Robert), Mary Sutherland and Jean Pottie (Jackie).
Funeral arrangements entrusted to John Green Funeral Home with visitation Monday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.; Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the River Bourgeois Funeral Home, River Bourgeois, N.S. Funeral Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the St. Peters Roman Catholic Church, St. Peters, Fr. Everett McDow officiating.
Family Flowers only with donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, An Cala Palliative Care Unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital or the Palliative Care unit of the Strait Richmond Hospital.
Forever pro-active, Frank wrote his own obituary well before his passing. In memory of Frank, please commit to making this world a better place by donating your time.
