SUTHERLAND, Claire Fraser
It is with deep sadness that the family of Claire (Garrett) Sutherland announce her passing after a brief illness in Ottawa, Ont., on May 17, 2022. Beloved mother of Janet, Ruth (Ron) and Anne and loving Grammie to Erin, Garrett and Graeme. Claire was predeceased by her husband Hugh in February 2021. Born in New Glasgow, Claire trained as nurse at the Victoria General Hospital (Halifax). In 1960 Claire and Hugh moved to Ontario and raised their family in St. Catharines (Merritton) before settling in Thorold. Claire’s nursing training and natural instincts, along with her deep faith, contributed to her practical and resilient approach to life throughout their 64 years of marriage. Claire lived a life of faith and service: she was a caring nurse, wife, mother, loyal friend and dedicated volunteer. She had a genuine interest in others and could always be counted on to remember details of everyone’s lives and offer a kind word or provide comfort when needed. If there was one word to describe her essence it would be “grace”. She received many letters from patient’s families over the years thanking her for her kind, gentle ways. Her love of history was apparent to all through her antique collection, her attachment to teddy bears, and her pride in preserving the history of Garrett Rug Hooking, which was her father’s family business. She could be both a quiet presence and the spark of fun. Underneath her reserved demeanor, Claire had a great sense of humour – she was a collector of funny stories, jokes and sayings and enjoyed sporting seasonal costumes, hats and accessories. Claire was renowned for keeping the connections between people and bringing family history to life. She was the family archivist, connecting relatives far and wide through genealogy, and extensively documenting family occasions. Letters from Claire always included a few "snaps" or clippings that she thought would be meaningful to others. She kept in touch with her nursing friends and colleagues from her Nova Scotia days at the Vic and Public Health in Cape Breton, to her jobs at St. Catharines Hotel Dieu, the VON, and the Shaver Hospital in the Niagara Region. Her home was welcoming and inviting and attracted new friends at every stage of her life. There was always a pot of tea and time to connect. Claire and Hugh both valued and enjoyed the community and fellowship of Knox Church (St. Catharines) and St Andrew’s (Thorold). Claire’s volunteer contributions were recognized in 2015 when she was named Thorold Senior of the Year due to her many efforts in the community, notably the Thorold Seniors Citizens Association and the Friends of Beaverdams Church restoration project. In the last decade a good day for Claire was to spend it in the garden, nurturing flowers and feeding the birds, and resting on her hammock on the deck. And, on any day, one dessert was never enough! Claire will be dearly missed by her extensive network of friends and family in the Maritimes, in the Niagara region and across Canada. The family acknowledges with gratitude the caring staff at The Glebe Centre in Ottawa where Claire lived for the past year. Details on a celebration of life will be forthcoming. If you would like to honor Claire with a donation, we would suggest supporting Friends of Beaverdams Church, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church (Thorold) or Alzheimer’s Society (Niagara Region). We plan to keep her spirit alive through random acts of kindness.