Sullivan-Fraser, Maureen “Deannie” – With sadness, we announce the passing of Maureen “Deannie” Sullivan-Fraser, 74 of Dartmouth, in Veterans’ Memorial Hospital surrounded by her family.
Deannie was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland to the late John and Mary (MacDonald) Sullivan, and remained proud of her connection to her birth province all her life. At the age of 12, she and her family moved to Beaconsfield, Quebec. After high school she graduated from Sir George Williams University with a degree in Commercial Art and Design before moving to Mississauga and starting a family.
Through Deannie’s career, she worked as an associate producer, production assistant and researcher for CBC Radio’s Mainstreet, a researcher for television shows such as Street Cents, Land & Sea and CBC special documentaries series, as well as the historical feature film, “Butterbox Babies”. She wrote the children’s novel “Johnny and the Gypsy Moth”, based on an amazing event in her father’s childhood. She used this book to go into schools and do workshops with children to encourage them to connect with their parents and grandparents and learn their own family stories. She was the author of a family musical, “Time Shadows” and one of the songs, “Making Tracks”, was recorded for Sesame Street. Two other songs, “I Had a Place” and “You’re my World”, were recorded by the Ontario group, Arane. Deannie was working on her Master’s in Atlantic Canada Studies, at St. Mary’s University in Halifax, writing her thesis, “Plants, Patent Medicines, Poultices and Pills: Home Medicine of Rose Blanche, Newfoundland”, when her illness forced her to stop.
Deannie lived life to the fullest and with enthusiasm, approaching things on her own terms and not letting obstacles or convention get in the way of her quest to achieve her dreams. Deannie’s biggest passion was people, and she enjoyed the personal connection with everyone she met, whether the interaction was casual with someone crossing her path or a lasting one with a family member or long-time friend. She was filled with so much kindness and love, which she shared so generously and without hesitation, through her warm, welcoming hugs and her thoughtful choice of words.
Deannie was deeply loved and will be missed by her husband, Ian Fraser; children, Sean (Jennifer Fairey) Keeping, Mike Keeping, Maryanna Sullivan-Fraser; grandchildren, Kelly (Jeremy), Max, Wylie, Katharine; great-granddaughter, Rylie; sisters, Brenda (Gary Dennis) Sullivan, Joannie (John) Moshonas; mother-in-law, Janet Fraser; sister-in-law, Heather (Darcy) Laycock; brother-in-law, Bruce (Heidi) Fraser; as well as her many nieces, nephews and close friends.
We would like to thank the staff and medical personnel of Veterans’ Memorial Hospital for their kindness, love and dedication to Deannie.
A celebration of Deannie’s life will be held in the fall, date and time to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada or, one of her favourite places to visit, Hope for Wildlife.
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