Obituaries

Frances A. [Fran] Clarke, 73, passed away peacefully at home, on Saturday November 9, 2024, surrounded by her family. She had finally succumbed to her five-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Her family was the centre of her universe, husband Jim for over 52 years, her children Jay (Paula-wife) and Sarah and her cherished grandchildren, James, Emma, Morgan, and Sophie. As well, she will be mourned by a multitude of lifelong friends whom she counted as part of the family.

Fran graduated from the Halifax Infirmary in the early seventies and began a rewarding career as a registered nurse a role that embodied her caring spirit. In the early eighties she transitioned into real estate to support her family and to put her husband through law school. Fran always believed in strong family values, and it was during this time of working two jobs, Jim’s school and the kids very busy schedule she made sure of having the traditional family supper every Sunday night. This tradition carried on over the years with Jay and Sarah having families of their own. Whether it was homemade Lasagna, Roast Beef, or Turkey Dinner, birthdays and seasonal celebrations were a cornerstone for her and the family. Her homemade Ceasar salad, Oyster Rockefeller and wontons were favorites and her specialities. As an enthusiastic Nana, she rarely missed an opportunity to support her grandchildren by attending dance competitions or hockey games and when unable due to her illness, she would livestream the action on her computer.

During the summer months, Fran would enjoy an afternoon or early evening cruise around the lake on the pontoon boat while Jim tried to catch a fish. Outside of work and family she enjoyed sailing and a round or two of golf with friends. She enjoyed travelling, meeting new people, and soaking up the culture in the places she visited. Besides her annual mecca to Phoenix to visit her BFF, her favorite places were Spain and Italy. In her final year, she managed to fit in Phoenix, a river cruise on the Rhine and then travelled to Rome and onto Ortona for the 80th Remembrance Day Ceremony for the Battle of Ortona.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the surgical and oncology teams in particular, Dr. Stephine Hiebert and Dr. Ravi Ramijensingh, the Palliative Care team and EHS paramedics whose compassion and dedication ensured that Fran’s wishes were honoured. In addition, a very special thanks to her family practitioner, Dr. Jason Fong who was always there whenever she needed him.

She was predeceased by her parents M. Clare and Frank R. Morgan, her brother Hugh and grandson Daniel J. Clarke.

Donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society Foundation for pancreatic cancer research or the Heart and Stroke Foundation. A Celebration of Life will be held in the summer of 2025, honouring her remarkable life, and the love, strength, and joy she leaves behind.