Obituary of Catherine Dawkins Giles

Catherine Dawkins Giles of Fredericton passed away on September 9th, 2024. She was 88 years of age.

 

Catherine is survived by her three children, Peter, Rebekah (Ontario) and Caroline (Fredericton) and by her sister Gloria Dawkins. She also leaves six grandchildren, Matthew, Benjamin, Emma, Nicholas, Olivia, and Samuel, and their families.

 

As a grandmother, at every stage of their lives, from infancy through adulthood, she stood secondary watch over her grandchildren’s growth and development, inspiring them, listening to them, telling them she was proud of them, making them feel loved, like they were remarkable in every way. Catherine had always been close to her grandchildren, and ensured that, no matter what, they would always have someone to trust and be there for them.

 

She was predeceased by her husband, Robert “Bob” Giles and his sister, Majorie Tibert; her parents, Herbert and Edna (Clewey); brother, Clair and his wife Rae; an infant brother, Melvin; sister, Phyllis Hopper; and by her son-in-law, Brian McLaughlin.

 

Catherine grew up in Fredericton, and lived in the area all her life, contributing to the community and becoming well known among a circle of friends and acquaintances. However, she was not held down here, as she was able to travel to Europe, South America and Hawaii with her husband, Robert, before eventually settling down in Rusagonis for the past 50 years. As longtime residents they enjoyed many new friendships and experiences as they watched Rusagonis grow and change. Catherine also found community and connection in the Rusagonis Baptist Church.

 

Catherine, always a bright and vibrant figure in the lives of her family and friends, will be greatly missed. We wish she were here to offer us some perspective, to mend our heavy hearts with a laugh and a dose of her wisdom. Catherine’s warm hearted and gentle personality was her most prominent feature and she will be remembered as a cordial and compassionate person, kind and non-judgemental, the ideal of what you would want in a friend, mother or grandmother.

 

The family would like to give tremendous thanks to Dr. Ryan Pawsey, Dr. Stacie Connors, Dr. Eric Rideout and the other numerous doctors, nurses and medical professionals of both the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital and Oromocto Extra-Mural Program who had helped her in relation to her cancer treatments in the time before her passing. Dear thank you to family friend and partner of Caroline, Ray Davidson, who supported Catherine greatly in the years after Bob’s passing.

 

There will be a celebration of Catherine’s life at a later date. A private family interment will take place at the Forest Hill Cemetery.

 

To view a video slideshow of Catherine and her family please go to the following link: https://vimeo.com/1008131178