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Bessie Myrtle O'Brien

1930-2019

Bessie Myrtle O'Brien Bessie Myrtle O'Brien

Bessie Myrtle O’Brien passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 13th at the Moncton Hospital.

Bessie was born August 2,1930 in Curryville, NB. She was the daughter of Archie and Viola (Brewster) Hawkes.

Bessie was born into the large Hawkes family 7th in a family of nine. She grew up in rural NB on a small family farm with all its requisite responsibilities, planting gardens, bringing in the cows, picking wild berries and fiddleheads, shelling beans for Sunday dinner and making hay. She and her sister Mabel also had the responsibility of walking a mile to their small rural school to start the fires early in the mornings. Her education was cut short because of a teacher shortage in Grade eight., so she joined the work force. Thus began her long and varied work history. Shortly after she began raising her family. With her last child in school, she decided to upgrade her vast skills and was the 1st person to graduate from the NBCC program and went on to become an accredited Chef. She worked for CN for a number of years and subsequently operated her own restaurant, a Bake shop and in later years a Second hand store. She was a member of the Hillsborough Legion Branch #32 Ladies Auxiliary and was very active in community events, hosting Christmas Daddies, Legion Christmas for kids(even dressing up as Santa when she could not find anyone to do it), being a Dart league chairperson and finally volunteering on the Salem- Hillsborough Railroad.

Bessie had a great sense of humour and loved to have fun. She smiled often and was content in life even when it was rough. She brought the Hawkes determination and good will to everything she did. The most important thing to her was her family. Her role as mother deserves the most acclaim. All of her children can attest to her "lovingness". She was always there to listen attentively, never judging but always able to give a nudge in the right direction. Mainly because of her guidance her children have became successful in their various lives. She cherished her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a good friend to all. When you think of a story of Bessie be sure to smile and this will help get you through her loss. She really is only a smile away.

Bessie will be lovingly remembered by her children Belva Carlin (Earl), Alida "Ida" Steeves (David), Bill Whalen (Robin), Randy Whalen (Craig), Bryon O’Brien (Tammy); son-in-law Clayton Steeves; her 13 treasured grandchildren and many precious great-grandchildren; sisters, Mabel Knowlton and Marion Nelson; her sisters-in-law, Muriel Hawkes and Irene O’Brien. She will also be missed by several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents she was predeceased by her first husband Aubrey Whalen, second husband Weldon O’Brien; son Willard O'Brien; daughter Deborah Steeves; brothers Howard (Doris), Bertram (Gertrude) (Nettie), Reginald (Doris), and Vaughan Hawkes; sisters, Lavenia Knowlton (Elmo) and Madeline Steeves (Austin); brothers-in-law, Melvin Knowlton and Clark Nelson.

She will be resting at the Albert County Funeral Home with visitation on Wednesday from 6-9pm. The funeral service will be held at the Albert County Funeral Home on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 2:00pm with Pastor Paul Steeves and Barbara Haire officiating. Interment will be in the Mountain View Cemetery, Lower Cape, NB.

Donations to the Mountain View Cemetery or Hillsborough Legion Branch #32 (Ladies Auxiliary) would be greatly appreciated.

Arrangements are in the care of the Albert County Funeral Home, 4130 Route 114, Hopewell Cape, NB, E4H-3K2 734-2780
www.albertcountyfh.com

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Service Date
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Service Time
2:00pm
Service Location
Albert County Funeral Home

Visitation
Wednesday, May 15th, 2019
Visitation Time
6-9pm
Visitation Location
Albert County Funeral Home

Burial Location
Mountain View Cemetery

Requested Charity
Mountain View Cemetery or Hillsborough Legion Branch #32 (Ladies Axillary)