Joan Geraldine Mills

Funeral service for the late Joan Geraldine Mills, 95, Antigonish, was held January 3, in St. Ninian’s Cathedral, with Father John Barry officiating. Burial will be in Sherbrooke at a later date. Mrs. Mills died December 23, 2018, at home. Readers at the funeral Mass were Erin Levy, Pat Hamilton and Angela Gillis. Claire Mills and Lindsay Mills presented the offertory gifts. St. Ninian’s Cathedral director of music Emery van de Wiel provided the music. Urn bearer was Duncan MacDonald. Born in Halifax, she was a daughter of the late Dr. Sebastian Young and Elizabeth (Corneally) Cooper. She completed a B.Sc. in Nursing from St. Francis Xavier University. She started her training at St. Michael’s Hospital School of Nursing, Toronto, and completed training at the Halifax Infirmary School of Nursing. She married her husband, John, in Halifax and later moved to Antigonish. After raising her family, she returned to nursing at St. Martha’s Hospital as a special duty nurse and subsequently taught in the nursing diploma program. She later joined the Faculty of Nursing at St. F. X. as an associate professor. Following several years of teaching, she was appointed executive director of the Registered Nurses Association of Nova Scotia (RNANS) in Halifax, until her retirement in 1990. During her nursing career, she was described as an outstanding leader, a dedicated professional and a role model for nurses. She has been awarded an honorary life membership with the Atlantic Region of the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing (ARCAUS) to honour a dedicated nurse in recognition of her contribution to ARCAUS and nursing; honorary membership in RNANS, which is awarded to nurses who have rendered distinguished service to the profession of nursing or the professional association; honorary membership in the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia (CRNNS), presented to Registered Nurses for outstanding contributions to nursing in Nova Scotia over the course of their nursing careers; and the certificate of recognition for faithful years of service to St. Martha’s School of Nursing; and lifetime membership in St. F. X. University Alumni. She loved to travel and visited numerous countries. During her retirement she enjoyed oil painting and created more than 100 canvases. She attended classes at the Atlantic School of Theology, served as co-leader of St. Pius X Journey Group, was a lay reader, a choir member, and worked with the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) for more than 25 years. In 2016, she returned to Antigonish, where she lived with her daughter Kate. She enjoyed music, gardening, and reading. She was especially happy spending time at her cottage with family and friends, where she viewed beautiful sunsets. She is survived by her six children, Barbara, Ottawa; Joe (Claire), Calgary; Jean, Halifax; Doug (Lynda), Antigonish; Kate Bechler, Antigonish; Trish (Pat) Hamilton, Halifax; eight grandchildren, Alana, Michael, Sheena (Chris), Lindsay (Darren), Zachary (Lindsey), Isaac, Erin (Josh), Lauren; three great-grandchildren, Sophie, Lucas, Keller; special friends, Duncan MacDonald, Dawn Purcell, Patsy Wallace. She was predeceased by her husband, John D. Mills; stepfather, Capt. Gerald Cooper. Memorial donations may be made to Hope Cottage, Halifax, through their website, www.hopecottage.ca/donate or to a charity of choice. Online condolences: www.clcurry.com