Ashley Dawn MacLean

MACLEAN, Ashley Dawn – 23, Halifax, passed away peacefully with no pain at the Victoria General 7A Palliative Care Unit on Thursday January 17, 2013, after a 34-month battle with Alveolar Soft-Part Sarcoma Cancer. Born in Halifax, she was the daughter of David and Wanda (Palmer) MacLean. Ashley was known for her love of camping, and involvement with Girl Guides. She began volunteering at St. Vincent’s Nursing Home in Halifax while her grandmother was a resident there, and went on to become an employee working in the kitchen and on the 5th floor. Her love for baking and cooking led her to pursue culinary education at NSCC. After Ashley was diagnosed with cancer and admitted to the VG, she continued to be an inspiration to all. Over the months she spent in the hospital, her mobility decreased, however she still insisted on living her life. Ashley enjoyed going to the movies, taking bus trips to the mall to go shopping, frequenting one of her favourite restaurants on Spring Garden Road, and visiting the market every Friday to buy flowers from Penny. During this time she wanted to give back and raise money for research and awareness by participating in and helping her team raise over $3000 for the Run for the Cure and over $8200 for the Relay for Life Angels of Hope team. Ashley loved to decorate her hospital room, from the special wall that the nurses on 5A created for her, to the angels, stars, and butterflies that covered the walls and windowsill in her room on 7A. Ashley is survived by her parents, her loving brother, John MacLean, and girlfriend Doreen Williams, her caring Grandpa, Percy MacLean, and her supportive aunts, uncles and cousins, Teddy (Dace) Palmer, Debbie (Colin) DeCunha, Cindi (Peter) Koeller, Rodney (Barb) Palmer, Ellen (Wayne) Negus, John Thornton, Vincent (Mark) MacLean, Gary (Anita) Susa-MacLean, Gregg Palmer, Mark Armstrong, Natalie and Melanie DeCunha, Julie Thornton, Jeffrey Negus, and her best friend, Chelsea Negus, as well as her supportive second cousin Catherine Ann Cameron and her family Tommy, Christopher and Sarah. Ashley is predeceased by her aunt, Debbie Thornton, loving Grandma Theresa (Goodyear) MacLean, and maternal grandparents, Granny and Grandad Edward and Gertrude (Little) Palmer. A warm and special thank you to the nurses on 5A and 7A, and to Dr. MacIntyre and his team for all the dedicated, hard work and support they provided to Ashley and her family. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be Monday, January 21st from 6-8 pm at J.A. Snow’s Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax (455-0531). The funeral service will take place in Snow’s chapel on Tuesday, January 22nd at 10am. Burial will take place at the Gates of Heaven Cemetery, Lower Sackville. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Ashley’s Relay for Life Angels of Hope 2013 team: (http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFL_NS_odd_?team_id=277879&pg=team&fr_id=12243). To send or view a condolence to the family please visit:jasnowfuneralhome.com