Obituary of Pauline Bacon

On June 30, 2020, at Queensway Carleton Hospital, Pauline (age 83 years), precious and beloved wife of Allan for 62 years. She is survived by sisters Daphne and Wendy, daughters Nicola (Greg), Claire (Steve) and son Timothy (Nicole), grandchildren Christopher, Daniel, Eric, Katie, Sophie, Jade, Kyle and Michelle, and greatgrandchildren Audrée-Anne and Lillie, and predeceased by son Gregory and brother Roger. Grateful thanks are expressed to hospital staff. A celebration of life service will be held at a future date. Pauline was born in Hampstead, England and met her husband Allan at a Bible class at the age of 11. At school she loved English and was a fine competitive swimmer, also achieving the Bronze Cross of the Royal Life Saving Society. After attending a Commercial College she became a private secretary to a motor vehicle engineer. In 1975 she emigrated to Canada with her family, where she later became Assistant Director of a halfway house for provincial prisoners and then Director of a Federal halfway house, visiting prisons to assess the suitability of prisoners for entry to halfway house programmes. Always one to give of herself, she for 13 years volunteered at Manordale Public School, assisting with a reading programme, was a Brown Owl for 10 years and District Girl Guide Commissioner for 5 years. For many years she served as Coordinator of Registration for a local Christian Women’s Club, maintained the records and each month, using her calligraphy skills, produced beautiful name tags. Pauline was well known and loved by the staff at the Queensway Carleton Hospital Special Care Nursery, for which over the years she knitted car seat-sized baby blankets. At the time of her passing she had knitted 1,332 blankets. At Ottawa Citadel Salvation Army Church she was loved for her ministry of taking photographs and sending cards. She never forgot a birthday or anniversary, or failed to send a note or card of comfort and encouragement. Pauline was devoted to her grandchildren, as they were to her. She provided tremendous support to Allan in England and Nigeria where he was a High School Headmaster and university lecturer, and here in Canada when he served as President and CEO of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, and during which time they travelled extensively. She was always a gracious and engaging “first lady.” She was a keen photographer, an avid reader, and loved doing crossword puzzles and playing Scrabble with Allan and the family. Pauline has left so many wonderful memories of her thoughtfulness and love for everyone she met. She was a beautiful lady, inside and out, kind and thoughtful in every capacity she served others. Friends have remarked about her beautiful smile and her courage, and how even when battling her own health problems she was cheerful and caring for others, a beacon of hope, love and faith in action, such a special lady. She had a wonderful sense of humour and an infectious laugh, always bubbly, with a smile that lit up a room and a positive, happy outlook on life. Her loving heart and kindness to all marked her whole life. Her warm and generous spirit will be sorely missed, but Allan and the family are very proud that she did indeed make a difference to so many people. Now a devoted wife, mother and nana has gone forever to be with her Lord, but she will always live on in our hearts and minds.