Obituary of Veronica Stonier

Veronica (Neary) Stonier, 93 Glace Bay, N.S. With hearts full of memories of a life well lived, we announce the passing of our mother Veronica Stonier of Glace Bay at the age of 93 on 1st January 2024. She was the daughter of Patrick and Mary (Robinson) Neary of New Aberdeen. Born in Glace Bay on Remembrance Day 1930, she lived in New Aberdeen her entire life. Through the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, as a miner's wife, she raised seven children. If that wasn't enough, during the 60s and early 70s, she operated a telephone answering service out of our home for a group of doctors in Glace Bay in the days before answering machines and voicemail. This was a challenge indeed - five children at home, as well as a dog and a budgie, in a company house with anxious patients on the line any time of the day or night. It was undoubtedly a twenty-four hour, seven day a week job which had a few very interesting moments, many of them quite late at night or early in the morning. She rose to all the challenges that came her way, and she worked hard with Dad to make a good life for us all, and we think they succeeded. Mom was a great cook and homemaker who really enjoyed a good laugh and was fun to be with, especially in celebration of her Irish heritage on St. Patrick’s Day. There is no doubt that she was an exemplary wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and sister. She remained a devoted and faithful member of St. John's Parish for 82 years until the parish was closed. During a portion of that time, she was active in the Catholic Women's League and the St. John’s Bowling League. She also belonged to the Ladies Auxiliary of Ring 73 and was a member of the Glace Bay Senior Citizens' Club on North St. She leaves to mourn and be thankful for her life her children: Ron (Jan), Battersea, ON; Karen (Harry) Gouthro, Glace Bay; George (Gladys), Kentville; Gail Robertson, Eastern Passage; Eugene (MaryLou), Victoria, BC; Craig Stoneburrowes, Toronto; and Ryan (Mary MacIntyre), Bedford. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Veronica was predeceased by her loving husband, James, after nearly 67 years of marriage. As the last surviving member of her immediate family, she was predeceased by her parents as well as sisters, Margaret O'Regan, Frances Hall, Irene McNeil, Bridget "Bert" LeBlanc and Kay Howie, and by brothers John, Andrew, Tim, Alex, Peter, Patrick, and Allie Neary. We would like to offer special thanks to staff at Northwood, Halifax Campus who were entrusted with the day-to-day care of our mother and who delivered that care, often above and beyond what was required. We often witnessed moments of empathy, generosity, attentiveness, and love that would make our mother feel at ease and at home.