Obituary of Lorraine Abigail Neill

UPDATE:  A service to honour Lorraine will be held on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 11 am from Devon Park Baptist Church officiated by Rev. Lawrence Meade.  Interment will take place in Sunny Bank Cemetery

It is with abundant sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Mother, Lorraine Abigail Neill, wife of the late Ronald D. Neill on May 17th, 2024 at Neill Hall, Shannex in Fredericton. 

Born on August 15, 1934 at the Barony in Prince William, NB, she was the daughter of the late Gordon and Lula Carson (Munroe).  Lorraine is survived by her daughter, Susan Neill of Toronto, ON; son, Allan Neill (Paulette) of St. Albert, AB; four grandchildren and their families, Derek Neill (Lori) and their son, Rachel MacQueen (Wes) and their 3 children, Joanne Swereda (Clayton) and their 5 children; Adam Neill (Emilee) and their 2 children. As well, she is survived by a few cousins, several nieces, and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her sister Marceline Fletcher and brothers Euguene & Guy Carson. 

As a young girl, Lorraine moved to Fredericton where she attended various schools.  In 1951 she graduated with honours from FHS and began a lifetime of service to the community she loved dearly.  Fresh out of high school and embarking on her career, she worked for the department of Education for several years while volunteering in the Carleton York Regiment.  She then worked as an executive assistant/office manager in various capacities beginning in the late 1950’s until she returned to complete studies at the University of New Brunswick, obtaining her Bachelor of Education degree in 1984.  Upon graduation from UNB, she went on to teach business to high school students at Devon Park Christian School for the next 12 years. 

Mom believed in giving back to her community.  She served on the District School board in the 1960’s, was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at her church for 40+ years, a past member of the Fredericton Community Foundation for 27 years (where she held office as resident secretary), and a member and past president of the DECH Auxiliary.  In 2002, she was awarded the ‘Paul Harris Fellowship Award’ for her volunteer work and community service spanning the previous 40 years.  In her younger years, she enjoyed basketball, tennis and loved skating.  It was through her love of skating that she met her future husband, Ronald in 1951, they subsequently eloped in 1955, and had just celebrated 60 years of marriage prior to his passing in early 2016.  Never one to be idle, in addition to her charity work, she had a wide range of interests, some of which involved sewing, gardening, baking, playing bridge, Yahtzee & Scrabble, crossword puzzles, singing in the church choir, travel and reading.   

We wish to express our gratitude for the care provided by staff at Windsor Court and, more recently, the kindness and compassionate care she received at Neill Hall and from friends Barbie Christensen and Kim Curtis.  

A service to honour Lorraine will be held later this summer on August 15th at Devon Park Baptist Church, followed by the Interment in Sunny Bank Cemetery. For those who wish, remembrances may be made to ‘The Fredericton Community Foundation’, or to a Charity of your choice.  Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com