Obituary of Elizabeth Irene Snair

Our sweet Bessie slipped into the arms of Jesus in the early morning hours of October 25th from her home in Sherbrooke, NS

Reuniting in the great beyond, she would have been met by all eight of her children; Frank, Paul, Shane, Michael, Wayne, Brian, Danny and Mary as well as grandchild Daniel, great-great grandchild Maise Elizabeth, husband Gordon, brother William Brow, sister Margaret Bray (Brow), mother Mary Jane Obrien and father Abraham Brow.

Surviving siblings Mary Alice Godon and Abbie VanBerkel mourn the loss of their third sibling.   

Bessie’s love of children was forged early in life. As the eldest of five siblings, she often took responsibility for their well-being and safety. A teacher if you will, someone to guide their young minds, provide structure and support them in their growth. This became a driving force in her life and led to her secondary educational schooling in Mabou where she successfully completed studies enabling her to become a pre-school teacher.

Throughout her life, Bess enjoyed a wonderous connection with nature. From the birds to the water to the trees and all the wonderous colours to be seen, she was always the spectator. A sketch pad, pencils, paint, and some brushes were never far from her reach.

Bess met and married Gordon Snair and the two would go on to raise a family, moving often around the mainland and onto Prince Edward Island before finally settling in Springhill, NS.

As the family grew, one child struggled and was later diagnosed with down syndrome. Bessie devoted her life to him. Continuously searching for new opportunities and support, she became a lifelong advocate for intellectually disabled children and adults and was instrumental in the creation of The Golden Opportunity Vocational Rehabilitation Centre in Springhill which continues to thrive today.

Once her husband Gordon passed, Bessie moved to Antigonish and spent several years close to her dear sister Margaret at The Greenwold Manor before moving to Sherbrooke in 2022.

This was her last stop.

A voracious reader since childhood, Bessie landed a roommate with the same compulsion in Sherbrooke. Their room became known as ‘The Library’ as this is where all the books were. It was indeed the book nook, and, this is where Bessie and Olive became friends. Bessie’s last stop, and this is where the story ends.

Good night Sweet Bessie, Good night!

Funeral Mass will be held at 11 am, Saturday, November 9, 2024 in St. Ninian Cathedral, 121 St Ninian St, Antigonish, NS. Interment to follow, at a later date, in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Springhill, NS.