Obituary of Thelma Burgess

BURGESS, Thelma “Terri” It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye, yet celebrate the life of Thelma (Terri) Burgess. She passed away peacefully at home, at the age of 97. Terri was born in Montreal, QC, on May 30, 1926, the only daughter of John and Nellie (Swailes) Hallas. Her early working years were during World War II, where she worked at the Dorval airport in Montreal for CP Telegraph and later in the Meteorological department. She met her husband Ross (Smith Falls, ON) at Round Lake, QC on VJ Day in 1945, and they married in 1947. They lived for many years in Montreal where they raised their four children. During the 1960s she furthered her education at Sir George Williams University. In 1973 Ross was transferred to Halifax and they moved into a beautiful home on Quinpool Road which they loved and where they enjoyed entertaining. Four years later Terri opened Burgess Travel in the Maritime Centre with the help and support of her husband, Ross. Their son Peter joined them after several years and helped the business grow. Burgess Travel was sold in 1998 after expanding from one employee to twenty-five. She continued to work as a travel agent extraordinaire into her nineties. Terri loved to travel - in fact, the only continent she didn't visit was Antarctica. She and Ross travelled throughout Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. A favourite destination was South East Asia, notably Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam, and her shopping trips to Hong Kong and South Korea were legendary. She loved to cruise, especially on Caribbean trips with family. Terri and Ross regularly escaped Halifax winters in places like Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. In their later years, they spent their winters in Sarasota, Florida. Thankfully they passed their love of travel onto their four children. Terri moved to Parkland at the Gardens, in Halifax, in 2014. She loved “retail therapy” and certainly had a black belt in shopping. She has always been a stunning, fashion queen and was an absolute fashionista at Parkland at the Gardens. Terri enjoyed hosting cocktail parties and her meet ‘n greet events were popular at Parkland. She was also proud of the investment group that she started at Parkland with a few of the other residents. She is survived by her four children, Linda Burgess (Sarasota, FL), Donna Brownlee (Whitby, ON), Peter Burgess (Mary Margaret) (West Palm Beach, FL) and Lori Burgess (Kentville, NS). She also leaves 8 grandchildren, Christina, Callie and Lexie Baker, Christian (Erin) and Corey (Lesle) Klender, Jamie (Daniel) Kelly, Natasha (Craig) Burgess Johnson, and Mandy (Elmer) van Butselaar, as well as 13 great-grandchildren. She will be missed by her family, as well as her many friends. She was predeceased by her loving husband Ross of 62 years, brothers Kenneth and Earl Hallas as well as son-in-law, Jim Brownlee. Donations in her memory may be made to the Molly Appeal - Dalhousie Research Foundation or Feed Nova Scotia. There will be no visitation at her request. Feel free to raise a glass of red wine or a lemon drop martini in her honour! The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Valerie Lewis and the staff at Parkland at the Gardens. To leave words of condolence for the family please visit: www.tjtracey.com