Obituary of Gertrude Annie Donald

It is with heavy hearts that the family announce the passing of Gertrude Annie "Grace" Donald on May 11, 2021, at Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital after a brief illness. Grace was born in Lower Caraquet, New Brunswick, in 1932. She was the loving daughter of Joseph & Annie Laurie Sewell and beloved spouse of the late Dr. Leigh Donald. She completed secretarial studies in Bathurst before moving to Fredericton in the 1950s. She quickly made friends through her involvement in sports (basketball, skiing, golf and curling) even meeting her future husband while skiing at Crabbe Mountain. They married in September 1963 and started a family the next summer with the arrival of Brian. She put her competitive sports life on hold for about 10 years while she raised her children. Mum loved family life which was filled with watching her children play sports, volunteering for school events, making preserves, sewing, crocheting, chair caning, church events, annual family vacations to Fundy National Park and then on to the Donald farm in PEI. Mum and Dad were terrific dancers and regulars at the dances held at St. Thomas University. They also loved to play bridge. Grace returned to the Caraquet area annually to reconnect with the community and family and friends. Mom was kind, good natured, and had a great sense of humour. She made friends easily and had many lifelong friendships. A resilient woman, she returned to living independently as well as to golf and curling after suffering a stroke in her 70s. She now used the stick in curling and was instrumental in developing a stick league at the Capital Curling Club. She was a curious person and always learning. In her 60s she completed a psychology course at the University of New Brunswick and in her 80s she used FaceTime regularly and did her own investing with guidance from the show Market Call. She was a member of St. Paul’s United Church and a member of the Fredericton Golf and Capital Winter Club for over 60 years. She was inducted into the NB Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 for her accomplishments and contributions in golf and curling. Grace will be greatly missed by her children Brian, Ian and Cathy, grandchildren Cody Sock (Morgan) and Leigh, great granddaughter, Cedar, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In addition to her husband Grace was predeceased by her siblings Herbert, Percival, Jean, Edmund, Thelma, Albert, and John. The family would like to extend special thanks to the doctors and nurses of 4NE at the Dr. Everett Chalmer’s Hospital and for their kindness and support during Mum’s final days. Special mention to Lori Matchett for all that she has done for Grace and family over recent years. A memorial service for family and invited friends only will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, from St. Paul's United Church. For those who wish, donations may be made to the ALS Society of NB of NS or St Paul’s Restoration Fund.