Obituary of Laurine Jean Green

Laurine Jean (Nicholson) Green

The family of Laurine Green is saddened to share the news of her passing on October 17, 2024, at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton, at the age of 88.  She and her late husband Vernon Green were married for 67 years before his passing in December 2022.  Laurine met her future husband at a United Church young people’s club.  They married on August 16, 1955.

Born on May 18, 1936, in the Mouth of Keswick, York County, N.B., she was the eldest of the four children (Laurine, Edna, Jack, and Dean) of the late Jean and Joseph Nicholson.  She had a special bond with her maternal grandparents Edna and Elmer Stephenson, also of Mouth of Keswick.

A proud graduate of Fredericton High School and the New Brunswick Teachers’ College, Laurine later studied Early Childhood Education at UNB.

Laurine loved children and she loved teaching, having taught school for 45 years in the Fredericton area, Oromocto, Moncton, and New Glasgow, N.S.  Her last 20 years of teaching were as the owner and operator of Wee Wisdom Kindergarten in Fredericton.  She hoped she had instilled a love of nature in her students with their frequent walks through the nearby O’Dell woods.  Through Wee Wisdom, many children in Fredericton started their learning journeys on a solid foundation thanks to her caring and devotion.  It is always gratifying for Laurine’s children when they encounter one of their mother’s “graduates” or their parents who still speak fondly of that experience.

She also believed in being active in her community, and at various times was a CGIT (Canadian Girls in Training) leader, Sunday School teacher, President of Tau Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi in New Glasgow, President of the UCW at Mount Royal United Church in Moncton, Session Member at St. Paul’s United Church in Fredericton, first President of the N.B. Kindergarten Teachers Association, and was one of the first members of the Epsilon Y’s Menettes.  She enjoyed working on the social committees of the apartment buildings where she and Vernon lived in retirement.

In addition to her love of children, teaching, and learning, Laurine also loved nature.  She and Vernon owned a series of travel trailers over the years and enjoyed travelling.  Funday National Park was a favourite destination.  Laurine enjoyed cooking and baking, and there were always homemade desserts in the house for her family to enjoy, including apple crumble, peanut butter cookies, banana bread, hot milk cakes, and date squares.  She also made a fancy bread ring and rolls for special occasions.  She was a natural leader and took on leadership roles of various kinds throughout her life.  Friends and later staff members where she lived commented on her sense of humour and wit.  She was kind and willingly gave of her time and energy, such as her volunteer work with the VON foot care clinic.  A good cup of tea was a staple of her daily routine, as long as it was King Cole or Red Rose. 

Laurine was extremely proud of her children Bradley (Jennifer Sutherland Green) of Fredericton and Lana (David Meagher) of Halifax and her grandchildren Colton (Emma Holle) and Chad Meagher of Halifax and Claire, Kate, and Ella Green of Fredericton.  She enjoyed cooking, playing cards, and doing crafts with her grandchildren and attending hockey games and dance recitals and loved hearing about their many activities and accomplishments.

She greatly valued her daily phone calls with her sister Edna Urquhart (David) of Fredericton.  In recent years they sometimes spoke several times a day.  Laurine’s children are grateful to Edna for her love and commitment to her sister.

Following their retirement, Laurine and Vernon spent many happy winters in Zephryhills, Florida where she built a close friendship with her “Florida sister” fellow snowbird Lucille Anthony (Dale) of Maine.  Laurine took part in a variety of activities at Settler’s Rest, their RV community, including taking painting lessons and attending and occasionally leading the Bible study group.  She and Vernon regularly attended First Methodist Church in Zephyrhills.

An active member of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick, Laurine loved politics and regularly attended meetings, events, and conventions and worked tirelessly on her son’s campaigns when he was running for office.

Laurine’s family would like to thank the compassionate staff of Paradise Villa, her home for the past three years.  They would also like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of 3 East and the Palliative Care Unit at the Chalmers Hospital, especially Dr. Jill Goodyear, for the care and support they provided during Laurine’s final days, and Dr. Naomi White, Kim Young, and the staff at Dr. White’s medical office in Oromocto for the kindness they showed and the care they provided over many years.

Arrangements have been entrusted to York Funeral Home.  A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Monday, October 28 at 1:00 pm.  In keeping with Laurine’s wishes there will be no visitation, but the family look forward to welcoming guests at a reception to be held at York Funeral Home immediately following the service.  At Laurine’s request the soloist at the service will be her cousin Ralph Stephenson.

For those who wish to make a donation in her memory, Laurine suggested the Children’s Wish Foundation or the IWK, in keeping with her love of children.