Obituary of Tracy Arsenault

Tracy (Bell) Arsenault passed away peacefully at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital on Sunday, November 11, 2018, after a 5-month struggle with metastatic breast cancer, the last month of which was spent in hospital due to numerous complications. She is survived by her husband of 32 years, Todd Arsenault; their son Chris Arsenault (Hannah MacKellar); her sister Ann Naylor (Rob); her brother Ted Bell (Dawn); and several cousins, nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces/nephews. Tracy was born in Brampton Ontario on October 22, 1962, the youngest daughter of the late Wilfred Lionel “Bill” and Beryl (Molyneux) Bell. The family moved to Fredericton when Tracy was 11 years old. Tracy earned her B.Sc. at UNB and then her M.Sc. in Biochemistry at McMaster University, and worked in the pharmaceutical industry in Ontario for a time. After moving back to New Brunswick she worked for 24 years for the provincial Department of Environment Microbiology Laboratory, first as a technician and for most of her tenure there as the lab manager, until the lab’s closure in 2016. Earlier that same year, she received the Protecting the Public Award from the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors NB chapter in recognition of her contributions toward improving environmental public health in New Brunswick. More recently, she worked at Elle Mio lingerie, where she became a certified breast prosthesis fitter and took great joy in helping women like herself who had been affected by breast cancer. She was proud of her Pink Ribbon “Carpe Diem” tattoo that she got after winning her first battle with breast cancer in 2013. Tracy had a great love of all things chocolate and was a master baker and cake / cookie decorator. She also designed cross-stitch patterns and published them through her own company, Fiddlestitch Cottage, for a number of years. Tracy believed in the importance of physical activity and was an avid CrossFitter. She also loved to drive her sapphire blue 1999 Mazda Miata convertible: even when the season was nearly finished and frost was in the air she would drive it to work every day with the top down while wearing a hat, gloves and scarf. Friends and family are invited to attend a Chocolate-themed Tea and celebration of Tracy’s life on Friday, November 16 from 4 to 7 pm at York Funeral Home, 302 Brookside Drive, Fredericton. At 5 pm there will be an opportunity to listen to and share a few memories and stories. There will be no funeral by her request, and interment will be at a later date. The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the staff of 3 East at the DECH. Donations to the Chalmers Foundation or the Fredericton YMCA Stay Strong cancer recovery program would be appreciated. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com