Obituary of Viola May Crouse
CROUSE, Viola May – Age 83, Bridgewater, formerly of Lapland, passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2019 in South Shore Regional Hospital, Bridgewater. Born in Halifax on May 16,1936, she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Iva (Johnson) Gibbons.
Surviving are her daughters, Ingrid (Alan Nowe), Lunenburg; Gretchen (Alan) Peveril, Lapland; Bridgit (Peter) Bell, Halifax; Viki Crouse, Bridgewater; grandchildren, Jason Crouse, Kyle Arsenault, Amy Hopkins, Lisa Keddy, Rachel Smith, Jennifer Bell, Parker Bell; great-grandchildren, Ephraim, Michaela and Linden Keddy, Myles Hopkins; many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Eric George Crouse in 2012; siblings, Helen Fader, Bernard Gibbons, Rose LeBlanc, Claire MacDonald, Robert “Bob” Gibbons.
Viola began her career as a telephone operator with Maritime Tel & Tel in Halifax. A young man from Lapland, Eric Crouse, had the MacKenzie bus route from Peggy’s Cove to Halifax and soon was dating one of his passengers, lovely Viola Gibbons. They were married at Peggy’s Cove in 1955. Vi and Eric first lived in Lapland, then moved to Wileville where they raised four daughters. Following the move back to Lapland in 1982 Viola’s focus soon shifted to devoting time to her grandchildren. She retired from her position as switchboard operator at South Shore Regional Hospital about 1999. Vi continued to spend many hours in her kitchen and creating handmade treasures for her family and friends. Every quilt was stitched with love and will be forever treasured. Viola spent the last 8 years of her life in Bridgewater and she took great pleasure in any time with her friends, children, grandchildren and very fortunate great-grandchildren.
No visitation at the funeral home by request. Service of Remembrance will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, November 7th, in Sweeny’s Funeral Home, 35 York Street, Bridgewater with interment to follow in Lone Pine Cemetery, Lapland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, South Shore Palliative Care Services or charity of choice. On-line condolences and messages may be made by visiting www.sweenysfuneralhome.com.
“Love should feel like a hand-sewn quilt made by grandma, wrapping you up on a cold winter morning.” - Carroll Bryant
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