Obituary of Frances "Pauline" Spence

SPENCE (Gibson), Frances "Pauline" Age 89, of Liverpool, passed away peacefully in her home on Monday, February 29, 2016. Pauline was born to the late Frank Gibson and Jessie (Wilson) Gibson-Tenney on October 17, 1926, in Somerville, Massachusetts. She was raised in Newport Station and attended the Teachers College in Truro before graduating from Acadia University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics. Pauline was a life-long educator and embarked on a teaching career at the age of 16 that took her from the Annapolis Valley to Halifax and finally to Liverpool. During her career of 27 years, she was a classroom teacher, teacher supervisor in Queens County and a school administrator. Pauline's commitment to her students and those under her charge was unwavering. Her kindness and sensitivity to all she met was accompanied by her determination to challenge people to become all they could be. Pauline's life during and after teaching was service to her community. She joined the IODE Gorman Chapter in 1977 and worked tirelessly for the organization serving as Chapter President, Provincial President and later on the National Board of IODE. In 1990 she became a Chapter and Provincial Life Member and in 1995 she was awarded Life Membership in the organization. Pauline also served the music community in the Liverpool area and adjudicated a number of local competitions. She was a giver and her thoughtfulness and generosity to others will continue long after her passing. As education was most important in her life, the F. Pauline Spence and W. Merle Spence Bursary, was established at the School of Education at Acadia University and will assist students in need who pursue an education degree. Pauline is survived by nieces, Linda Goucher (Brian), Upper Falmouth; Marlene Durdle, Newport Station; Janet Rommens (Wendell), Brooks, Alberta; Joan (Spence) Marshall (Peter), Ingramport; Gail (Spence) Prentice (Donald), Uxbridge, Ontario; nephew, David Spence (Barbara), Cornwall, Prince Edward Island; sister-in-law, Marjorie Gibson, Newport Station. Besides her parents, Pauline was predeceased by her loving husband, W. Merle Spence; brother, Eugene Gibson; nephew, Paul Gibson; brother-in-law, Raymond Cochran Spence and his wife, Doris (Gilchrist). The family would like to thank Dr. Andrew Blackadar and homecare workers, Bev, Dale, Donna, Mary, and others for the wonderful attention and compassion shown to Pauline for many years. Arrangements have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., PO Box 981, Windsor, NS B0N 2T0 (902-798-8317). A funeral service will be held at 2pm, Friday, May 20, in Zion United Church, 409 Main St., Liverpool. There will be a family interment service in Maplewood Cemetery, Windsor, on Saturday, May 21 with a public reception to follow at St. Croix United Church Hall at 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory may be made to charities Pauline supported including: Foundation Fighting Blindness, 12th floor, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 3P4; Canadian Liver Foundation, 287 Lacewood Dr., Unit 103, Halifax, NS B3M 3Y7; Canadian Cancer Society – Nova Scotia Division, 5826 South St, Halifax, NS B3H 1S6; QE II Health Sciences Centre Foundation, 1276 South Park Street, Room 1-040, Centennial Building, Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9 or the Alzheimer Society, Nova Scotia, 2719 Gladstone St., Halifax, NS B3K 4W6. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca