Obituary of Elizabeth Louise McLaughlan
With heavy hearts, the family of Elizabeth Louise (Clark) McLaughlan announces her passing, surrounded by family, on Thursday, August 20th, 2020 at the Mill Cove Nursing Home. Born in Wickham, NB, she is the daughter of the late James and Loretta (Pugsley) Clark and loving wife of the late Andrew McLaughlan.
Elizabeth is survived by her children: Marilyn (Karl) Sullivan of Bloomfield, NB., Brenda McLaughlan and Stephen McLaughlan, both of Jemseg, NB., Jack (Janet) McLaughlan of Gagetown, NB., Ronald (Sherry) McLaughlan of Lower Sackville, NS., Randy (Margie) McLaughlan of Rothesay, NB., Scott McLaughlan of Jemseg, NB., and Laurie Beth (Jamie) Fulton of Lincoln, NB.; sisters-in-law Betty Clark and Dina Dykeman; grandchildren: Aaron Perry, James Perry, Jason Perry, Christa Welton, Holly Welton, Stacey McLaughlan, Andrew McLaughlan, Matthew McLaughlan, Brendan McLaughlan, Katlyn McLaughlan and Riley Fulton; great grandchildren: Jacob, Beecher, Locklin, Avery, Ainsley, Xavier, Madison, Ella, Jackson, Ashe, Billy and Ivy and several, nieces, nephews and extended family.
In addition to her husband and parents, Elizabeth was also predeceased by her infant daughter, Roberta, and her brothers Percy, Earl, Walter, Ralph, Harry, William and Norman.
Mom lived a quiet childhood in Wickham and Bald Hill, NB, growing up in a family of 7 brothers; she was the second youngest and the only girl. Her father worked away from home as a Cook in lumber camps and on the river boats that travelled the Saint John River, inspiring a close relationship between Mom and her mother and with her seven, mischievous brothers. She was so very fond of them all. She often told stories of her brothers’ hijinks and trickery and of the tales they told in their letters to home while they served overseas during WWII.
She attended the local one-room schools in Carpenter and Wickham from grade 1 to 8. While living with her family in Wickham, she often accompanied her mother to assist new mothers during and after the delivery of their babies, both as midwives and homemakers. In her mid-teens, she travelled by train to McAdam where she worked as a live-in Tutor and homemaker for a family there.
Mom met Dad in the late 40’s. Their courtship involved frequenting the local dance halls, kicking up their heels to waltzes, jigs and reels played by the likes of The Maritime Farmers, Ivan Hicks and Eugene Morris. He quickly became the love of her life and they were married on October 28, 1950.
Her love of family was a major part of her life, as she learned from her mother, cooking and sewing and all such things. She carried these skills through to teach her own children and grandchildren. Mom could always make and fix things for us, and if she could not, then Dad could. We were so blessed to grow up with them. Mom had endless patience and a love for knitting and quilting. All her children and grandchildren have a quilt made by her.
Mom gave her heart to Jesus at the age of 8 and taught us all who He is and that He died for us, and Dad took us all to Sunday School. They did their absolute best to show us the right way to live and love our own.
Due to the current physical distancing restrictions, the family will hold a family funeral service Sunday, August 23, 2020 at 3:00 PM at the Jemseg United Baptist Church with the burial immediately following at the Jemseg Baptist Cemetery. For those who would like to join the service online, it will be available to view on the Jemseg Baptist Church Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/JemsegBaptistChurch/). Donations in memory of Mom would be appreciated to the Mill Cove Nursing Home Foundation or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.