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FERN McDERMOTT (Fortin)

Posted

April 28, 1927 – November 07, 2014

Fern  McDermott (formerly Fern  Fortin), passed away peacefully at the age of 87 at the Turnbull Nursing Home in Saint John, New Brunswick on November 07, 2014.

She was born to the late Burt McDermott and Geraldine (Ross) McDermott in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario where she resided for many years.  Fern raised six children with John A Fortin (deceased April 24, 2004) and was an active member of the theatre community, particularly the Sault Theatre Workshop. Fern returned to school in her forties and graduated from Laurentian University (at Algoma College) with a BA in English and Psychology in 1979. She then left the Sault for London, Ontario and graduated from UWO with a BEd in 1980. After graduating, she worked for the Ontario government as a Patient Advocate for 10 years. Upon retirement in 1993 she went to Estonia as part of a CESO team and participated in a consultation process to reform a soviet style psychiatric institution. She later moved to the maritimes to live near two of her daughters. While there she became a volunteer for the Saint John Jazz and Blues Festival.

She will be deeply missed by her family and friends for her witty sense of humour, her passion for theatre and jazz, her intelligence and kindness. All of this continued to shine through her Alzheimer’s Disease in her later years.

She is survived by her loving children Dayle Doran (Chris), Terrie Greco (late Ernie), Mark Fortin, Lois Brooks (Dave McMillan) and Chris Fortin. She is pre-deceased by her eldest son John Fortin (Nid), and her elder sister Geraldine Burns. She is also survived by her younger sister Sharon Horsford (Peter), and her dear grandchildren Steven and Sam Brooks, Paul Greco (Kalea), and Chris and Ken John (KJ) Fortin. She will be fondly remembered by her nephews, nieces, close friends and her wonderful team of caregivers at the Turnbull Nursing Home.

A memorial service will be held at Brenans Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row in Saint John, NB, on Tuesday, November 11 at 12:00, with reception to follow.  An additional service will be held in Ottawa in the spring at Hope Cemetery.