Obituary of Flora Ellen Beckett

Flora (MacGregor) Beckett passed away on January 26, 2013 in Saint John, NB at the age of 73. Flora is survived by her loving husband of fifty years, Barry, her daughter Lesley Balcom (Bruce) of Fredericton; son Stephen (Melanie) of Saint John, and son Alex (JoAnn) of Hubbards, NS, and her eight grandchildren: Chris, Andrew and Alison Balcom; Matthew and Adam Beckett; and Maeve, Elsa and Audrey Beckett. Flora was the daughter of Donald and Frances (Fairbanks) MacGregor of Sackville and is survived by brother Donald MacGregor (late Hope) of Calgary, sisters Margaret Brown (Carl) of Antigonish, and Mary Alexander (David) of Montreal, and many nieces and nephews. Born in Sackville, NB on September 28, 1939, Flora spent a happy childhood growing up within a loving family in the interesting setting of a university town. Flora was the valedictorian for her Sackville High School class of 1956, and Mount Allison University class of 1960. She lived at home as a university student and loved her interesting summer jobs at Dalhousie University in Halifax, McGill University in Montreal, and on Prince Edward Island. Ready for adventure when she graduated from university at 20, Flora travelled to Edinburgh to earn her teaching diploma, and stayed in Scotland to teach in Dundee. She met her future husband, Barry, in 1961 at a student work camp in the Grunewald Forest of Berlin, Germany, setting the stage for a lifetime of travel. They married in England in 1962 and lived and taught in Norfolk, moving to Canada in 1966 with their young family. They intended to stay for only a few years, but instead of returning to England they embraced life in Saint John, and became involved in the development of the Saint John campus of UNB. Flora’s teaching career was revived in 1975 when she taught her first math course at UNBSJ. She loved teaching and was loved in return as a kind and committed instructor. Flora retired in 1998 after serving as the first Director of the Math Help Centre. Upon retiring, Flora taught the first UNB course at Concord College in Beijing. In recognition of her outstanding service to UNB, the Alumni Association named her an honorary member in 2011. Flora’s retirement years were full of family, friends, and travel. She shared many wonderful times with her children and grandchildren, and was always eager to hop in the car for a birthday, recital, or soccer game. She was happy and proud to celebrate her 50th anniversary with Barry this past summer at Shampers Bluff with all her family, followed by a trip with Barry this fall to their old haunts in Germany and the UK. She did not let a diagnosis of cancer slow her down. Flora had a lifelong love of music. She played the piano from childhood and sang in choirs at Mount Allison, in Dundee, Edinburgh, and for many years as a member of the Saint John Choral. She was active in the Saint John community, supporting countless events and generously volunteering with many charities and organizations, including years as a regular volunteer at the community food bank. Flora chose to live her life to the fullest. She saw the best in everyone, she found the world an infinitely interesting place full of interesting people, and was unfailingly kind to everyone who crossed her path. She will be deeply missed by her family and a very wide circle of friends. Visitation is scheduled for Friday, February 1st between 2-4 and 7-9pm at Brenan’s Funeral Home on Paradise Row in Saint John. A funeral will take place at Portland United Church at 2pm on Saturday, February 2nd. For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the UNBSJ Flora Beckett Math & Science Help Centre, the UNBSJ Beckett Bursary, or the charity of choice.