Obituary of Sandra Elaine Clarke

Sandra Elaine (Beaton) Clarke passed peacefully surrounded by family at the Halifax Hospice on Dec 13 2019 at the age of 76.

 Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, she left the Soo to study Honours English and French at the University of Toronto, followed by a year of training as a secondary school teacher at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.  She taught in Toronto, New Westminster, and finally at Queen Elizabeth High School in Halifax, before focusing her life on raising her three daughters, Michelle, Rebecca and Nancy. In addition to managing a busy household, she was heavily involved in volunteer work in the community. This included participation in the International Committee of the YWCA, the annual Canadian Parents for French Concours d’Art Oratoire, the Board of Halifax Housing, various leadership roles in the PTA’s of her daughter’s schools, and as president of her church.  She was a lifetime devotee of book clubs and was a long-term member of a female spirituality group.  As her daughters grew into their teen years, Sandra returned to the workforce and joined the Education department at the Nova Scotia Museum where she had been a longtime volunteer school group guide.  Sandra spent three months in Kiel, Germany and six months in Paris with her family when her husband Allyn was posted there.  She was always willing and able to rise to a challenge such as scouting out appropriate music teachers and girl guide packs forher children abroad. Sandra will be remembered for her conscientiousness, her kind heart, her love of learning,  and her silly sense of humour.

Sandra leaves behind Allyn, her husband of 51 years, daughters Michelle (Beau) MacKinnon, Rebecca (Juan) King, and Nancy (Seth) Bloom, sister, June Doan, brothers Don and Larry Beaton, many nieces and nephew and, most precious of all, her grandchildren, Alex, James, Aliyah, Nyla, Yael and Rosalina. 

Sandra’s body has been returned to the soil. 

Visitation will take place on Tuesday Dec 17 at 2-4 pm and 6-8:00 pm and a celebration of Sandra’s life will take place on Wednesday Dec 18 at 2:00pm.  Both will be held at the Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax, 5500 Inglis St, Halifax.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UU Church of Halifax or a charity of your choice.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Halifax Hospice, Dr. Carver, and Dr. Archibald and especially Terri Stewart, Sandra’s long-time caregiver who brought joy and friendship to her final years.