Obituary of Edith Jessie. McCullagh

Peacefully at the Turnbull Nursing Home on June 14, 2006, aged 93. Edith McCullagh (nee Smith) was born August 3, 1913 in London, England and was educated at Selhurst Grammar School, Croydon, Surrey, England. She began her career with London Telecommunications (Continental Department). In 1940 she was seconded to the British Embassy in Paris and was a member of the Embassy staff evacuated to London shortly before the fall of Paris to the advancing German Army. Married to Harold McCullagh in 1941, she enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in 1943 and served in telecommunications until 1945. With her husband and two young children she emigrated to Kenya, East Africa in 1951. There, she, her husband and sister-in-law operated an 800-acre coffee plantation near Eldoret in the Kenya Highlands. In 1954 she obtained her Montessori Teaching Diploma and taught at the Highlands High School for Girls in Eldoret, and later was appointed Vice-Principal of the Delamere Girls High School in Nairobi. After emigrating to Canada in 1969 she worked as secretary-accountant for the John Howard Society and in 1976 joined J.D. Irving, Limited retiring in 1992 at age 79. While living in Gardners Creek, New Brunswick, Edith was a member of Fairfield United Baptist Church and a founding member of the Quaco Crafts Guild. After moving to Saint John in 1973 Edith was a member of the Y Chorale, performed in a number of operettas at the Saint John High School, was a founding member of the Saint John Choral Society, a member of the Carleton Choristers, and a member of the Germain Street United Baptist Church Choir. She served for more than 10 years as a tutor for READ Saint John and for more than 11 years was a volunteer with Lakewood Headstart food and clothing bank, serving for nine years as secretary to the Board of Directors. She also worked for eight years as a volunteer with "Ten Thousand Villages" handcraft shop. Edith also volunteered at the Regional Library and delivered Meals on Wheels for eight years. Predeceased by her husband, Harold, Edith is survived by a son, Michael (Prue) of Colchester, England; a daughter, Moira (Joel) Levesque of Quispamsis, five grandchildren, Daniel and James McCullagh and Rachel (Rob) Reeve, of Colchester, Chris Levesque of Calgary and Lindsey Levesque of Fredericton and one great-grandson, Isaac, of Colchester. She is also survived by two sisters, Kathleen Withers of Fairfield, and Pam (Nick) Barfoot of Saint John, as well as nieces and nephews in Canada and England. Moira and Michael would like to pay tribute to some very special people - Cora Leaman and Wendy King, Edith's devoted caregivers while she resided at Chateau de Champlain, and the nurses and staff of Turnbull Nursing Home whose love, care and compassion for Edith are sincerely appreciated. Arrangements are being handled by Brenans Funeral Homes. At Edith's request there will be no visitation. A memorial service will be held at Brenans, Paradise Row, on Friday, June 16 at 11:30 a.m., followed by a reception. Memorial donations to Lakewood Headstart, Turnbull Nursing Home Foundation, or the charity of the donor's choice would be appreciated.