Obituary of Frances "Francie" Gilbert

Frances 'Francie' Gilbert, 85 Glace Bay, N.S. Frances 'Francie' Gilbert, 85, of Glace Bay, passed away peacefully in Glace Bay Hospital following a brief illness. Born in Glace Bay, she was the daughter of the late Leo and Veronica 'Lollie' O’Neill. In her younger years, Francie attended St. John’s School and later St. Anne’s High School. She worked at Ferguson’s Pharmacy until she married and started her family. While raising her family, she continued her education by taking an Early Childhood Education course. After her husband’s death, Francie worked first as a cleaner and then a teacher’s aide with the Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board. She worked in various schools before retiring from John Bernard Croak (JBC) Elementary School. Francie loved to read and always had a book on the go. She also loved to go for walks around her neighborhood or on the boardwalk at Dominion Beach. She was an avid fan of the Toronto Maple Leaf’s and the Cape Breton Eagles. A woman of great faith, Francie attended St. John the Baptist Parish for much of her life. When St. John’s closed, she attended services at St. Leo’s Parish and later St. Anne’s Parish. Francie had a huge heart and always helped others. Throughout her life she volunteered for many groups and events. She volunteered for many years with Glace Bay Town House nursery school program. She also volunteered with St. John’s Parish Council, JBC’s Home and School Committee, Victoria Haven Nursing Home, the Cape Breton Cancer Centre and more. Francie was devoted to her family. Some of her favorite times were spent sitting at the kitchen table sharing a cup of tea and a visit from family members. Her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren kept her young at heart and she loved spending time with them. She was the rock of our family. In good and bad times, she kept us steady, giving us strength, encouragement, and love. Francie is survived by her sons Derrick (Debbie), Darrell, and Wade (Joanne); daughter Lynn (Mike); grandchildren Kyle, Jeffery (Bonnie), Kurt (Kyla), Jennifer (Tyler), Amy and Brett; great-grandchildren Logan, Skye, Avarie, Grayson, Mackenzie, Elena, and Emmett. She is also survived by her sister Mildred Haitse, sisters-in-law Linda Aucoin and Lori Gilbert, brother-in-law Peter Gilbert (Sheila); several nieces and nephews, many of whom she treated like her own children, and her dear friend Mary Gould, who was like a sister to Francie. Besides her parents, Francie was predeceased by her husband Gerald; parents-in-law Joe and Jen Gilbert; brothers Joey (Florence), John Francis, Jackie, Tommy (Winnie), Jake and Billy; sisters Patricia (Fred) Redding, Elaine (Jack) MacDonald, Jean Clancy, and Mella (Maurice) Popwell; brothers-in-law Vernon, Garfield, and Calvin Gilbert, Kenny Aucoin and John Haitse, sisters-in-law Josephine O’Neill, Pauline Gilbert, Dolores Gilbert and Velma (Joe) Varrence. Special thanks to the staff and physicians at 3 East in Glace Bay Hospital and at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital emergency department for the care they gave Francie. Special thanks also to Dr. Stephanie Ellerker for the care she provided to Francie over the years. Visitation and celebration of life will be held in T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, 370 Reserve St., Glace Bay. 902.849.4199. Visitation takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 4-6 p.m. Celebration of life will be held on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, at 11 a.m. with Fr. Norman MacPhee presiding. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tjtracey.com. May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.