Obituary of Virginia Adela Davidson

Virginia Adela (Clowater) Davidson passed away peacefully at the age of 87 on July 26, 2025 in Fredericton, NB.

She was born on January 4, 1938, at the home of her paternal grandparents in Porter Cove, NB. She was the eldest child of Fred and Irene (Lovelace) Clowater.

She will be greatly missed by her husband of almost 62 years, Arnold Davidson of Fredericton; sons Ross (Bev) of Alma; Lyle (Gül) of Fredericton; and Ian (Wendy) of Woodlands; grandchildren Brody, Colby, Tristan, Ayla, Grace, and Wesley; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Alvin and Goldie Davidson; and many extended family and friends.

She was predeceased by her parents, as well as her brother Harold Clowater; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lois and Marven Sellick.

Virginia grew up in a picturesque setting right beside the Miramichi River on the Porter Cove Road. One of her most vivid early memories was a canoe trip her dad (who was a Miramichi fishing guide) took the young family on, from Half Moon Cove to their home, a distance of over 50 miles. She had many other fond remembrances from her childhood which she talked about all her life: of growing up with her brother, cousins, and friends; of always being surrounded by family, including her grandparents who lived next door and her grandmother who lived upriver; of picking fiddleheads along the river every spring, and wild berries in nearby fields during the summer months.

She attended the one-room schoolhouse in Porter Cove from grades 1 to 6; she and Harold walked two miles each way. She then went to the brand new high school in Boiestown, UMRHS, beginning in the fall of 1951, and graduating in 1957.

After graduation, she struck out on her own and moved to Fredericton. She loved living in the city during those years, and especially enjoyed watching numerous movies at the theatres. She and Arnold met in the early 1960s when they were both working in town, introduced by a mutual friend. They went ice skating on their first date, and were married in October 1963. They spent their first couple years of marriage living in downtown Fredericton, and then, in 1965, built their home on the Royal Road in Nashwaaksis, where they lived for 15 years, and where their sons spent their young childhood years. In 1980, Virginia and Arnold purchased a farm on the Currieburg Road (Boyd's Corner) in Stanley, and resided there for 37 years. For the past 8 years, they've lived, once again, in Nashwaaksis, first at their apartment on Douglas Avenue, and most recently at York Care Centre.

Virginia was quiet and unassuming. Everybody knew her for her pleasant demeanor, kindness, and thoughtful nature. She was truly a gentle soul with a heart of gold.

She worked mainly as a bookkeeper, and was employed for about a decade during the 1950s and 1960s with E.J. Dey, Chartered Accountant, in the Victory Building on Queen Street in Fredericton.

At home, she loved tending to her many plants and flowers, and growing vegetables in the family garden. She adored animals, especially cats and sheep, of which she had many pets over the years. She was a big fan of television, especially comedies and murder mysteries, and had a number of favourite shows, including Perry Mason, Columbo, the Carol Burnett Show, M*A*S*H, the Golden Girls, and Newhart. And she was a life-long Montreal Canadiens supporter.

Her family will remember her cooking, baking, pickling, and preserving. Among her best-loved creations were baked beans, potato scallop, home-made french fries, tea biscuits, banana bread, and her famous chocolate macaroons, which she made every Christmas. She also made lots of dill pickles, apple sauce, and strawberry and raspberry jam every year.

Throughout her life, she greatly enjoyed attending church every Sunday. The first was Ludlow United Baptist Church, and then the United Church of Canada, in Boiestown (where she was baptised); Fredericton (St. Paul's); Nashwaaksis; and the Stanley Pastoral Charge churches in Tay Creek, Stanley, and Cardigan. She also enjoyed teaching Sunday School in both Nashwaaksis and Stanley.

Virginia loved to travel. Over the years, she saw much of the Maritimes, and took family vacations in Maine and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Further afield in Canada, she visited Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Niagara Falls. And in 2007, took the trip of a lifetime to Turkey, which she greatly enjoyed, accompanied by some of her family.

In her later years, she loved spending time with her cherished grandchildren, baby-sitting, attending their sports and other activities, and watching them grow into adults.

Virginia's family wishes to thank all those who provided care and support to her in recent years, including Dr. Robert Gonzalez; Integrity Home Health Services; Meals on Wheels; and everybody at York Care Centre, Tower 1. 

There will be no visitation. A graveside service will take place at the Woodlands Community Cemetery, Woodlands Branch Rd, Woodlands, NB on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 2 pm with Rev. Chris Walker officiating. Honourary pallbearers are Ayla Davidson, Grace Davidson, Nancy Sewell, and Marilyn Spencer. For those who wish, donations may be made to the Fredericton SPCA in Virginia’s name. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com