Obituary of Annabelle Rose Taylor

On Sunday, July 14, 2024, shortly after her 89^th birthday, our favourite aunt, Annabelle Rose Taylor, died peacefully in the Abby J. Lane Memorial Building, QEII, Halifax. Born in Falmouth, she was the youngest of 5 children born to the late Colin and Florence (King) Taylor between 1928 and 1935. After achieving senior matriculation at Edgehill School and Windsor Academy, Annabelle attended Acadia University (grad 1957, both Science and Secretarial Science) and the University of Toronto (1964, Library Science). She had a long career as a research librarian with the National Research Council in London, Ottawa and Halifax.

Her athleticism was noted early in life, achieving excellence in tennis and swimming during her high school years. Her exploits with the Acadia field hockey team (undefeated in 1956) resulted in enrolment in the Acadia Sports Hall of Fame. She was an avid skier, golfer and curler who through the years passed these interests on to many younger members of the extending Taylor family. She continued curling into her 80s.

Annabelle remained single her entire life, allowing scope to indulge her adventurous instincts.  She drove sports cars throughout life, always Fords. With two friends she drove across North America to visit the 1962 Seattle world fair, sleeping in a tent along the way. She watched Julie Andrews on the London stage premiering My Fair Lady, toured China when Chairman Mao was still in charge, attended the Sapporo Winter Olympics, visited Russia while Chernobyl burned, walked Machu Pichu alone, and travelled seemingly everywhere but Antarctica and the moon. None-the-less her favourite places were Evangeline Beach and Green Bay, Nova Scotia.

The youngest child, she did not meet her oldest brother, Ronald, who passed before she was born. However, she was loved and cherished by her surviving siblings Conrad “Tip”, Richard “Dick” and Florence (married Erskine), whose love she returned multiplied. She visited them all regularly, doing what was needful, useful or beautiful. To her nieces and nephews she provided interest, encouragement and delightful birthday and Christmas presents. To all, when needed, she expressed care and comfort.

Annabelle acquired many friends, even late in life, met through her work, interests, activities, or merely chance. Many became dear friends because of her kindness and attentiveness.  She loved the spring and would collect the earliest mayflowers and pussy willows for distribution to friends and relations. She was a skilled artisan in paper and collage - several collections exist of her Christmas cards and gift tags. Annabelle did not have stuff; her apartment was a whole, expressing her vision for a comfortable and beautiful place to reside.

She had extensive involvement in community affairs. She was very active in saving Halifax Historic Properties from demolition. She gave blood hundreds of times and on retirement volunteered full time with the Red Cross. She served on the board of the Halifax YWCA. Following from her musical mother, she played piano for enjoyment, and clarinet with numerous adult musical ensembles, regularly attending CANMAC music camps. She was at various times a member of the CFB and Mayflower curling clubs, the Dalhousie Faculty Club, the YWCA, the Liberal party of Nova Scotia and several professional librarian associations.

In recent years Annabelle suffered from the relentless progression of dementia. We are thankful to The Berkeley on Pepperell for providing support and care for the last five years.

In addition to her parents, Annabelle was predeceased by her brothers, Ronald, Conrad (Lois) and Richard; nephew, Gerald Erskine and niece, Susan Taylor. 

Of her generation she is survived only by her sister, Florence Erskine and sister-in-law, Ruth (Creighton) Taylor. Missing her enormously are nieces, Janet (Taylor) Gagnier, Nancy (Taylor) Delahunt and Jane Erskine; nephews, Colin, Stephen and Blair Taylor, Neil and Joe Erskine. She is also survived by 19 great nieces and nephews who were lucky enough to know her; younger ones will learn from them. She is so loved still and was so proud of us all.

Arrangements for cremation have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert Street, Windsor NS (902-798-8317).  A funeral will be held 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 20 in Windsor United Church, 613 King St., Windsor, Rev. Brenda McKay officiating. Interment will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Windsor. Donations in memory of Annabelle may be made to the Windsor United Church, PO Box 2037, Windsor, NS B0N 2T0 or to a charity of one’s choice.  Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca.

And when the long sweet day is done

  A cottage waits nearby

With an open fire-the glow of lights

  And the ocean’s lullaby

                          ……Florrie Taylor 1950’s