Obituary of Ann Elizabeth Thorne, New Waterford

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Ann Elizabeth (Baldwin) Thorne on Sunday September 5th, 2021, at the of age 72, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Born in New Waterford on May 7, 1949 she was the daughter of the late George and Elizabeth (Stapleton) Baldwin. Ann was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Left to mourn are her loving husband of 48 years, Edward “Buddy”, and daughters Wendy McSavaney, and Janice Thorne, both of New Waterford; grandchildren, Ceilidh, Brooks, AB, Holly (Mathew), Ryan McSavaney, Alex (Darrah), Sarah, and Theo Thorne, and great-granddaughter Payton Mark, all of New Waterford. Also left to mourn her passing are sons-in-law, Todd McSavaney, Brooks, AB and Jason McKinnon, New Victoria; brothers-in-law, Brian Rush, Sherwood, PEI, and Robert Thorne, Sydney; sister-in-law, Sandra Baldwin, St John’s, NFLD; special nephew and Godson, Mike (Susan) Rush, St. John, NB and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Ann was predeceased by her brothers, George and Kevin, and sisters-in-law, Rose Baldwin and Irene Rush. Mom had the ability to make everyone feel at ease. Her kindness and empathy were only exceeded by her willingness to give her time. If she had what you needed you got it, if it was as simple as a box of tang or something more like a bed to sleep in or someone to listen. Her advice was always carefully thought out and gently delivered with tea or coffee and homemade baked goods, well sometimes the tea was rum, but we digress. She loved history, camping and visiting family, often combining the three dragging the camper around the Atlantic provinces visiting family and making friends everywhere she went. If you asked her to pick her favourite family camping trips though it would have been Labour day weekends with our neighbourhood in Baddeck. Closing out the summer catching up with everyone, singing and adventures galore (We won’t talk about the tee pee incident, if you were there you know.) Her ability to know we were up to no good was only surpassed by the amount of mischief she and the other ladies got into. Community involvement was a very big part of Mom. She was sought out to volunteer with almost every group in town including The Coal Dust Days Committee, Girl Guides of Canada, Mt. Carmel High School 50’s and 60’s Reunion’s, she was a founding member of the New Waterford and Area Combined Christmas Giving, and a faithful member of the St. Leonard’s Parish CWL to name a few. She truly enjoyed improving New Waterford. For her professional life Mom was a secretary at BEC, St Agnes and Mount Carmel schools. She was so much more to the staff and students; many went on to call her friend. She also taught night school for a number of years, served as proofreader and editor for countless papers and books. Mom also hated to have a free minute. If work, family and volunteering weren’t keeping her busy, she could be found baking, reading, sewing, quilting, playing cards or having coffee with the neighbours. Taking sewing project classes was one of her favourite pass times after she retired. Her other hobbies included taking children and grandchildren to every activity and class imaginable from 1980 until she gave up driving. Everything from violin to horseback riding to swimming to dance to 4-h to soccer, no distance was too far. Nonnie got everyone where they needed to be and you always got a treat on the way home. As you can tell, no was not a word used often in our home. Dad tried; but he was overruled. While some say that Mom was spoiled by her parents and in turn spoiled all of us, we would say that we were well loved and taught to give until you have nothing left and then pick yourself up and give some more. The family would like to thank the emergency and IMCU staff for getting Mom in and where she needed to be as quickly as possible, special thanks to the outstanding ICU unit at the regional hospital for treating her with such care and respect and tolerating our antics. Your kindness and support will not be forgotten, and we promise the rest is our secret. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 10 from 2:30 – 4:30 pm in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith St., New Waterford. A private funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel with Father Peter McLeod officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Carmel Cemetery. Covid-19 protocols will be in place at the visitation and service. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca. To tell tales out of school: Ann was a huge giver; coats showed up at people's homes who had none, new gym shoes replaced the worn-out ones on the shelf outside the classroom, a milk bill was paid, the book fair had a draw, and they picked your name. In the spirit of her inner Santa and in lieu of donations we ask that you adopt a family or senior this holiday season, volunteer your time to a local organization or do a random act of kindness in her memory.