Goldie Sylvia Fownes

Goldie Sylvia Fownes, 88, of Cherry Hill, Nova Scotia, passed peacefully at St. Vincent’s Nursing Home in Halifax on October 12, 2023.
Born in Blockhouse, Goldie was the youngest daughter of Harris and Effie (Zinck) Langille. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Fred Fownes, son Allen (Lynn Kontak) of Halifax, daughter Nadine (John Pearce), of Stillwater Lake, grandchildren Sarah, Matt and Mary, four great grandchildren, and her brother Merrill Langille (Barbara) of Bridgewater. She was predeceased by her parents as well as her sisters, Claudia, Valeria, and Natalie.
Goldie always reminisced fondly about her childhood in Blockhouse where she rode her bicycle to school and church, up and over the hills into Mahone Bay. It was at a dance in Blockhouse where she met the love of her life, Fred, who swept her off her feet and away to Montreal where they lived for several years before returning to Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, to raise their family.
Goldie enjoyed a diverse work life: After high school, she began training to be a registered nurse at the Victoria General School of Nursing but switched gears several times, turning her hand to everything from secretarial work to real estate. The longest and most successful chapter of her career was as a financial planner.
Upon retirement, Goldie and Fred travelled and cruised the world, and enjoyed spending time at their family cabin on Big Lake Mushamush. The highlight of their retirement years was their move to an older home overlooking the ocean in Cherry Hill. This was where Goldie felt most at home and forged some of her most heartfelt friendships. Over the past several years, Alzheimer’s disease robbed Goldie of many memories but she continued to express her affection for her beloved Cherry Hill right to the very end.
Goldie will be remembered for her joyful zest for life and love of a good laugh, her pointed opinions, her warm hugs, and especially her scrumptious seafood chowder and chocolate cakes.
Goldie’s family will be forever grateful to the nurses and caregivers at St. Vincent’s Nursing Home for their compassionate and professional care.
Goldie has generously donated her remains to Dalhousie Medical School and the Maritime Brain Tissue Bank where researchers are studying the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
A private family burial will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Goldie’s memory to the St. Vincent’s Nursing Home Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Society Research Program, or the United Communities Volunteer Fire Department in Cherry Hill.