TUFTS-WALLACE, Emma Beatrice Elizabeth – 92 passed peacefully into heaven on the early morning of Saturday, February 2, 2013, in the Annapolis Royal Nursing Home, where she had resided for the past two and one half years. Born February 26, 1920 in Plympton, NS she was the youngest daughter of the late David and Eva (O’Neil) Tibbetts. Emma attended school in Plympton and graduated from grade 12 from Digby Academy. In 1962, on the day her youngest child started school, Emma returned to school herself, taking the commercial course at Digby Regional High School, from which she graduated at the top of her class. She worked as secretary to lawyer E.J. Theriault and his young assistant, (Judge) John Nichols in Digby. She was also secretary to Keith Potter, who praised her beautiful penmanship. Widowed in 1966, Emma moved to Barton and was the owner of Balser’s Rest Home, caring for nine residents, which also allowed her to be a stay at home Mom, as she still had three of her six children living at home. Remarrying in 1976, Emma sold the Rest Home, “Retired” and moved to Middleton, N.S. Then she really got busy! Her volunteer work, vast and varied, and yet so quietly done, was recognized in 1986 when she received a certificate of appreciation for her outstanding volunteer service benefiting Annapolis County. From her Digby County volunteer work as Sunday School Teacher and Bible Study Leader, her Presidency of both the Home and School Association and the Digby Music Festival Committee and the Regional Vice-Presidency of Operation Friendship, Emma carried her willing heart and hands to Middleton and continued to volunteer. By 1981, Emma had given five years of devoted and continuous service to the Canadian Mental Health Association and was named Middleton’s Volunteer of the year in 1989. In 1990 she was cited by the Senior’s Expo for here outstanding contribution to the Annapolis County Senior Citizen’s Council. In 1994, Emma was named a Life Member of the Baptist W.M.S. of Canada. In 1995, Emma was one of the founding members of The Valley Care Line and was also the recipient of the Order of The Eastern Star “Rose Medallion”. In 2006, Emma was named an Honorary Life Deacon of the Middleton Baptist Church. Perhaps her most personally satisfying accomplishment had come in 1984, when she and her husband Irvin, both avid gardeners, received the Nova Scotia Gardeners of the Year Award, for their work in creating gardens of such beauty on their Marshall Street property that many weddings were held there, as well as other bridal parties choosing to have their wedding photos taken in that setting. After Irvin’s death, Emma remarried and lived quietly in Middleton until entering Annapolis Royal Nursing Home in 2010. Emma and Irvin were longtime members of the Wilmot Garden Club, where for ten consecutive years; her tea roses took first prize. Emma also found time to devote to her “hobby” that of an accomplished oil painter of nature; flowers and scenery, and was a member of the Nova Scotia Arts Council. We are all so proud of our Mum, that mighty little woman who managed to do so much in such a quiet way, though no doubt she would frown upon our mention of any of it. Emma is survived by five of her six children. Joan Godin, Landsdowne, Joe (Susan) Balser, Landsdowne, Bill (Jackie) Balser, Ardoise, NS, Don (Linda) Balser, Digby and Sherry Balser (Linda Ellis), Annapolis Royal. She is also survived by step-son John (Cheryl) Tufts, West Paradise, NS and step-daughter, Robyn Wallace (Sandi Bystrakiwski), Oshawa, ON. Also surviving are ten grandchildren David (Joann), Danny, Bruce (Tracey) and Fred Hopkins, Kim (Balser) Coffin (Danny), Tammy Balser and Joseph Balser, and their mother, Ruth Darres (Wendall), Cory (Elsie Beazley) and Brett Balser and their mother, Elizabeth Balser, Shilo Balser (Darryl Narain). Three step-grandchildren Andrew (Katherine) Tufts and their daughters Madeline and Ella, Peter (Tamara) Tufts, Sara (Tufts) Kline (Derrick ) and their daughter Charlotte. Seven great grandchildren Jessica and Kirsten Hopkins, Morgan and Cole Hopkins, Megan and Cody LeBlanc, Rosie Balser and step-great granddaughter, Jasmine Narain and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sister Anne Gates, Annapolis Royal Nursing Home, and sister in law Juanita Tibbetts , Smith’s Cove . Emma was predeceased her husband E. Ashford Balser (1966) and their son Eber (2007); sisters Margaret, Alice, Kathleen, Frances and brothers Bernard, Edward, John and George. Her husband’s Irvin Tufts and Clive Wallace also predeceased her. Visitation was held Tuesday, February 5 in the Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main St., (902) 825-3348, it began with an Eastern Star Service conducted by Annavale Chapter #31, O.E.S. The funeral service was held Wednesday, February 6th in the Middleton Baptist Church, Rev. Danny Smith and Rev. Donald Robertson officiated, followed by a reception in the Family Life Centre. Interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Middleton. Donations in memory may be made to a Charity of one’s choice. An online guestbook may be signed by visiting: www.middletonfuneralhome.com.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Kenneth P. Buchholz, Linda Bailey R.N. (Adm.) and all the staff at Annapolis Royal Nursing Home for their excellent and loving care during Emma’s stay there. We know that our mother Emma, wise and so loving, would agree to counsel and console us with the words of Canon Scott Holland (from “Facts of Faith”)
“Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. Whatever we were to each other,that we are still. Call me by my old familiar name. Speak to me in the easy way you always used. Put no difference into your tone; wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without effort, without the ghost of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant; there is absolute unbroken continuity. I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well.”