Vera Belle Graham
Born In: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: January 16th, 2010
It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and aunt, Vera Belle Graham, 84, resident of Sydney Mines on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney.
Born in North Sydney, she was a daughter of the late Archibald C. and Hilda (McDermott) Anderson.
Mom worked as a receptionist at the medical clinic for several years as well as the Indian Cove Coal Company, both in Sydney Mines. She was hired by CN Marine, first working in the Port Office and then in the reservation/ticket office. Mom worked her way up, becoming the first female supervisor for Marine Atlantic as Supervisor of reservations/tickets for the Atlantic Provinces. She retired from this position in 1990. Mom spent many hours tending to her numerous gardens in her yard. Plants were her passion as was her needle work which produced many needle point pictures. She spent hours reading books, magazines and of course her newspapers. There were also many trips within Canada, the United States, England and Scotland. Mom was a community minded citizen, volunteering for many causes. She served on the pension board for Marine Atlantic and on the Board of Directors for Interprov 97 (Canadian Highland Dance Championship). Vera belonged to the Industrial Cape Breton Board of Trade, Sydney Mines Historical Society, NEDAC, the Northside Hospital Foundation, New Deal, and held various offices in the Dr. D.W. Archibald Memorial Chapter of the IODE.
Surviving is her children, Frederick Charles (Anna) Graham, Baxters Harbour, N.S., Heather Anne (Richard) Collis, Big Bras d’Or; grandchildren Neal (Shizuka) Graham, Toronto, Marianne (Andrew) Estabrooks, Toronto, Jeannie (Rob) Friars, Memracook, N.B., Genevieve Collis, Halifax, Sean Collis, Edmonton; great-grandchildren, Lindsay Graham, Libby and Ian Estabrooks, Chloe and Abigail Friars; sister,s Marie Viva, North Sydney, Minnie (Buddy) Roberts, Sydney Mines; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Anderson, Sydney Mines, Edith Langille, Dartmouth; and many loved nieces and nephews.
Vera was predeceased by her husband, Clarence Graham, brother, Kenneth Anderson, brothers-in-law, Joseph Viva, Alexander Graham, Tom Graham, sister-in-law, Annie MacDonald.
Special thanks to all the health care workers who were involved with making Mom’s life a better quality.
Visitation will be held 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 2 p.m. Wednesday, at St. Matthew Wesley United Church, North Sydney, with Rev. David Luker officiating. Burial to take place at Lakeside Cemetery, North Sydney.
Family flowers only, memorial donations may be made to Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Dialysis Unit, Regional Cancer Center, St. Matthew Wesley United Church, or charity of one’s choice.
Online condolences may be sent to info@wjdooley.com.
