CAMPBELL, Frances Katherine “Fi” (Bruce)

Just one month short of her 99th birthday, Frances Katherine (Bruce) Campbell, better known as “Fi” to her many friends and family, gently left us. Youngest daughter of the late Dr. James Bruce and Adelia (MacLeod), Fi grew up on Whitney Avenue. Born New Year’s Eve, 1921, she grew up during Sydney’s heydays. She sailed and swam in Sydney Harbour, caught the tram car just outside her home and experienced the Great Depression and World War II. In many ways, her life was shaped by the trauma of losing her mother and a beloved brother while she was still a child. She accompanied her father on his house calls, through the back roads of rural Cape Breton, developing a deep compassion for others—and a fear of driving too fast. She was a lady, with a wonderful sense of humour and style, and she was a proud Cape Bretoner and Presbyterian to the end. Fi’s lifelong passion was playing the piano, a special gift which she enjoyed and shared throughout her life, with her family, church and community. After studying at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, homesickness brought her back to Sydney, where she trained as a stenographer. During the Battle of the Atlantic, she applied her phenomenal typing speed and spelling ability to ship-to-shore communications at Sydney’s Naval Dockyard. After the war, Fi met and married Everett Campbell, the love of her life. While raising their three children, she worked part-time in doctors’ offices, and then ended her career, at the age of 65, with Revenue Canada. Part of Fi’s regular routine was making delicious bread and applesauce, the majority of which she generously delivered to friends, and acquaintances in poor health. Besides her husband, Everett, and her parents, Fi was predeceased by her sisters, Peg McConnell and Shirley Peters; brothers, Joey and William Bruce and stepmother, Bett. Mom is survived by her beloved children, Bruce Campbell (Nansea Tomalty), Lisa Patterson (Paul) and Glen Ellen Paton (Darin). Mom was blessed with seven grandchildren, James (Alison) Morrison, Jill (Chris) Campbell, Galen Conroy, Beatrice Price (Brendon), Laurie Campbell (Jacob), Robert Patterson and Rachael Paton; and with four great-grandchildren, Everett and Erik Morrison, and Bella and Nikau Campbell. Fi is also survived by her sister, Jean (Jack) Thiele, and by many adoring nieces and nephews. Although Fi was challenged by Alzheimer’s disease for over a decade, she remained a remarkable woman, never losing the essence of her personality: her independent spirit, sharp intellect and wit, her deep faith, and her gift of music. Although her journey through life on Earth has now come to an end, her love will live on in the hearts of her family. A family graveside service will be held. Memorials may be made to the Hospice Palliative Society of Cape Breton County or the United Protestant Church of Sydney River. The family would like to sincerely thank the wonderful staff of the Cove Guest home for tenderly looking after Fi over the past few years. Words of comfort can be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or e-mail sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca.