Obituary of Myrla Jeanette Drysdale

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Myrla Jeanette (McCully) Drysdale, 89, passed away peacefully at home on June 10, 2023 in Halifax, NS. Myrla was born in Port Hawkesbury, NS, the third of four daughters born to Margaret Ada (Philpott) McCully and Ernest Weir Fawcett (“Toots”) McCully. Our Mom eschewed long lists of accomplishments and honours. She wished only for others to know that she had a good and happy life, that she loved and was loved – as a daughter and sister, a spouse, and a parent and grandparent. Mom was a proud graduate of the Victoria General Hospital School of Nursing (Class of 1955), and it was while a student nurse that she met Alan Drysdale, a young medical student and the man who was to become her cherished partner in life for more than 60 years. She was grateful for their years together and for the family that followed. Myrla’s life after nursing revolved around her family and community. She gave tirelessly to others through formal organizations, but more often through her many offerings of comfort, care, hospitality and the amazing gifts of her hands, kitchen and garden. To her children, she was everything, supporting all our endeavours, whether those were academic, athletic or artistic. She was champion, cheerleader, chauffeur, seamstress and more. She was the rock around which we all grew and thrived. When Mom had time for herself, one of her greatest pleasures was having her hands deep in the soil of her gardens, at home in Halifax and at the family cottage in Stanhope, PEI. Myrla is survived by her five children, Carolyn (Rick Buhr), Susan (Paul Brousseau), Diane, Donald (Jennifer), Scott; her 12 grandchildren whom she adored and who always knew her warm and loving presence, Claire, Ellen, Douglas, Graham, Ross, Cameron, Christopher, Braeden, Ian, Andrew, Maia and Britt. In recent years, Mom delighted in the arrival of her great-grandchildren, Parker, Quinn, Gavin, Ethan, Madelyn and Wesley. She is also survived by brothers-in-law, George Evans and Ian Drysdale, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition to Alan and her parents, Myrla was predeceased by her three sisters with whom she enjoyed close and treasured relationships despite the distance that sometimes separated them, June (P. Archibald Dickson), Lorraine (Evans) and Elizabeth (J. Philip Wambolt). Arrangements have been entrusted to T. J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, Halifax (902)835-4212. To leave words of condolence for the family please visit: www.tjtracey.com. A family celebration of Myrla’s life will be held at a later date. Donations in her memory may be made to a charity of choice, with a focus, if desired, on organizations that support the health, well-being and access of children and youth. The family would like to thank Cindy Bell and Nick Fraughton of the QEII Palliative Care Team, and the wonderful caregivers from Parkwood Home Care, especially Priya, Aminat and Bridgit.