Obituary of Leslie Louise Brannen

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Leslie “Lee” Louise Brannen on Monday, July 3, 2017.  Born in Truro on February 19, 1947, she was the daughter of the late A. Douglas Brannen and Frances L. (Lewis) Brannen.

A graduate of Acadia University with degrees in Bachelor of Science in Home Economics (1968) and in Bachelor of Education (1969), Lee began her teaching career at the Chester Municipal High School.  She so enjoyed the school and the community as well as her students and her colleagues that she remained at this same school (renamed the Chester Area Middle School in 1992) until her retirement in 2002.  In addition to having a very satisfying career, Lee’s location on the South Shore enabled her to hone her sailing skills and, in 1979, afforded her the ‘thrill of a lifetime’ when she was a member of the first all-female crew to sail in the Marblehead Race.

With retirement came the opportunity to pursue interests and activities that, until then, had been curtailed by her very busy teaching career. Her move to “the cutest little house in Windsor” gave her close proximity to the ski hill at Mount Martock and enabled her to start each day of the ski season with a few runs down Expressway followed by coffee with members of the Ski Atlantic Seniors Club.  A keen member of the Club, Lee served as a member of the Board of Directors as Director, Ski Martock for a number of years.

Living in Windsor also brought Lee closer to her cottage on Shortt’s Lake, her “happy place”, and her favourite place to be during the summer season.  Between seasons, she was kept busy with the various projects of the Acadia University Branch of the CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women) and, in particular, their Annual Book Sale.

Lee is survived by her daughter, Kimberley, and her grandchildren, Tamara and Cody Zinn; her siblings, Frank (Glenice) of Ft. Langley, BC; Lindsay (Margaret) of Wasaga Beach, ON; Paul (Shelley) of Brampton, ON and Joan Free (David) of Simcoe, ON; and her nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Lee’s many friends who enriched her life and were a source of great joy.  Special thanks is also extended to the Palliative Care Team of the Hants Community Hospital, the VON, the staff of Northwood Homecare  and to the team known as “Lee’s Helpers” for the support and care they gave so generously. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., Windsor (902-798-8317), where a visitation will be held on Saturday, July 8 at 10 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Hedley Hopkins, a member of the Ski Atlantic Seniors Club, officiating.  Following the service, a reception will be held in the Elmcroft Reception Centre and later that same day, interment will take place at the Robie Street Cemetery in Truro (est 3:30 - 4 p.m.). In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Lee may be made to Amyloidosis Research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (thepmcf.ca) or to a charity of one’s choice. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca