Colleen Grace (Jones) Sutherland

It is with profound sadness that her husband Bill and their boys Bradley, Jeffrey and Brent announce the passing of Colleen Grace (Jones) Sutherland peacefully at home on January 03, 2022. Colleen was born in Saint John on May 15, 1940, the only daughter of Willard and Grace (Waddell) Jones. She was a graduate of Saint John High in 1958 and became a registered nurse from the Victoria General Hospital in Fredericton. She trained in Fredericton as she did not want her mother keeping track of her activities, who was a dietician in the Saint John General Hospital. It was in Fredericton where she met the Red Bank kid, Bill, and later they became life mates. Her initial career consisted of working in Saint John as a public health nurse and at VGH in Fredericton. In her early days in Halifax, Colleen was a Household Executive as she referred to herself. Not to be outdone by her children she went back to Dalhousie University and obtained a Bachelor of Nursing, graduating the same year as her oldest son. Later she worked in geriatrics in the development of policies and documents for the certification for the Oakwood Terrace Nursing Home retiring in 1999. Her retirement, for some reason, corresponded with Bill’s work in engineering allowing her to travel extensively across Canada where she developed many good friends.

Colleen was a member of the Rockingham United Church as well as the Engineers Wives Association. Her activities included playing bridge, along with occasional painting (with the help of Dot), gardening, spending money and applying her extra specific skills in raising the boys. Mom was certainly a super Mom - giving us very much love, attention and advice during our adolescent years and after. She was adamant that we be involved in many sports, cubs, scouts, Junior Achievement and keeping us busy at organized activities – no running the streets. Our payback for adhering to that was the many parties and “fun cooking” for Halloween, birthday parties and of course the “big spread “after the Xmas Eve church service for us and friends. Mom had little time for the politics of the school and often put it to the test- most cases the arranged meeting would be cancelled as they knew she would have documented the facts. She had lots of affection for our children/grandchildren and visited them often, going to hockey, football, and soccer games. She loved when the grandchildren came to visit, showing them the city and in early years visiting many play fields.

She loved to travel with many of the trips in Canada ending at the boy’s homes. While winning a trip any place Air Canada flies for herself she convinced Bill to go to England, then on a 14-day trip in Europe at the same time, – a free flight but many $$$. She spent many months in the Villages in Florida over the years where the grandkids had an exciting time within the golf cart village.

Colleen is survived by Bill and her sons Bradley (Lucia) and Alec, Mackenzie and Michaela; Jeffrey (Darlene) and Zachary (in spirit), Ben and Nathaniel; and Brent (Diane) and Trevor and Mattie; her brothers Gerald (Barb) and Phillip; her sister-in-law Florence Levesque; her brother-in-law John Sutherland (Lillian); her sister-in-law Doris Sutherland (Eddie) and many nephews, nieces and cousins on the Jones/ Waddell and Sutherland families.

Colleen was predeceased by her mother and father; her brother Edward; Bill’s father and mother Arnim and Edna (Stewart) Sutherland; her sister- in- law Faye and husband Buddy Sutherland and her dear grandson Zachary.

Colleen/Mom- may you soar like an eagle and send your love and advice as we continue our journey of life.

A Celebration of Colleen’s life will take place on Saturday July 16, 2022 from 2-4pm in J. A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewwod Drive, with remarks at 3:15pm.

Memorial Donations would be welcome to Rockingham United Church, 12 Flamingo Drive Hfx, B3M 1S5 or a charity of your choice. Our special thanks to Dr Johnson, Estelle “ the nurse next door” and Claire and her Palliative Care Team.

To leave an online condolence please visit www.jasnowfuneralhome.com