Obituary of Elaine Robinson

                                          In memory of Elaine Robinson

       Joyce Elaine Robinson, né Delaney, was born on April 29, 1936 and died in her home in Oak Haven, New Brunswick on April 13, 2024. Elaine is the daughter of Beatrice Mae Knox of Saint John, New Brunswick and Harold Vernon Delaney, a WWI veteran, of Long Island, Nova Scotia.

        Elaine’s life was shaped by being born at the cusp of WWII and she was the youngest of six siblings; Dorothy, Donald, George, Audrey, and Robert. At the tender age of 6 years, her two eldest brothers, Donald, and George served in WWII overseas. During this difficult time, Elaine’s father worked as a longshoreman and her mother brought in boarders to make ends meet.

       Young Elaine relished attention and style so her first job was at Calp’s Department Store and her pay checks were spent on the latest fashions. Elaine met the love of her life, David Robinson, while they were members of the Carriden Choir in Saint John. David grew up in Milltown, NB where his parents worked at the Cotton Mill, his father as a loom technician and his mother as a weaver. David moved to the big city of Saint John to pursue a career in business and married Elaine in October 1957. Together, their lives blossomed with four children named Julie, David, Jennifer and Ashley, a dog, cat, and a budgie. Their establishment, J & A MacMillan Ltd., provided local schools, businesses and the public with textbooks, stationery, office supplies and furniture.

      Their leisure time was devoted to the local music scene, most memorable were Elaine in a Handbell Choir and David singing in the Friends of Music, and social time with their many close friends in Saint John. The hectic life in the city was offset by a second life of freedom and tranquility on the shores of Oak Bay. Elaine piled the kids and pets into a little four-on-the-floor Simca and race off to St Stephen and stay at the cottage with no piped in water or telephone. It was here that her children learned resilience and observed Elaine’s ability to step up to the plate, eventhough she preferred the attentiveness of her “knight in shining armour”, David.

      Elaine took great pride in encouraging her kids to pursue play, study, music, and sports. Beyond her family, she gave her energy to art, the New Brunswick Music Festival, United Church Women (UCW), teaching art at Island View School, Bridge Club and building the first Carleton Curling Club junior program as a teacher and Curl Canada coach. Elaine enjoyed playing cards, and laughing with her group of friends who called themselves “The Sunshine Girls”. Travel was notable, highlighted by a trip to England and Paris in 1967, Nassau, Banff, British Columbia, Arizona, trips to Florida and a cruise to the Bahamas.

     Retirement brought Elaine and David back to the tranquility of Oak Bay full time. They engaged with their rural community participating in the Kirk McColl United Church, Kiwanis, and other community events. Elaine enjoyed the view of Oak Bay; the birds that visited her window, neighbours who dropped in to say hello and the puppy dogs that came for their daily treat. Elaine cared deeply for her extended family, neighbours, friends, and their children; always excited to have a new picture of “little-ones” to put on the fridge.

    Elaine is survived by her four children, Julie (Jim), David (Lynn), Jennifer (Ron) and Ashley, and her five grandchildren, Jade (Tyson), Brett, Florence (Matthew), Adeline (Amber), and Josef, her niece Lois (Bill) and grand, great-grand and great-great grand nieces and nephews. Elaine, your spirit is a part of all who knew you. God bless you and may you rest in peace.

    A celebration of Elaine’s life will be held with a wake from 2:00 to 4:00 pm Friday July 26, 2024 at Humphrey’s Funeral Home, and on Saturday July 27, 2024 at Kirk McColl United Church with a meet and greet at 10 am, service at 11:00 am, reception at 12:00 noon pm and interment at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, Elaine would appreciate a donation to the life and work of Kirk McColl United Church. Online condolences to the family or donations can be made at www.humphreysfh.com