How do you say goodbye to your Mom? To the one who birthed you, raised you, stood by you and loved you.

How do you say goodbye?

We, the family, are so sad to announce the death of Regina Calnan (96), wife of the late John Calnan and daughter of Frances and Wilfred Arseneau which occurred on Sunday, October 16th, 2022 at the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst.

Mom loved to be with Dad singing in the Holy Family church choir and with Friends in Song. She always enjoyed the sound of chatter in the house. She was especially happy to feed her brood at Christmas time with her insanely good homemade meat pies and dill pickles.

And she was always more than willing to welcome the neighbourhood kids to play in the yard at 500 Stout.

She loved Stout Court. Her tranquil backyard, her flowers and the birds singing to her. To Mom it was a piece of paradise in the middle of town.

Mom leaves behind sister Betty Hall of Riverview, brother Jim Arseneau (Anita) of Toronto and a massive number of nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by sisters Angie, Leona, Evelyn, Rita, Christina and brothers Eric, Aurele, Rene, Leandre and Cletus.

And then there is our family. Man, did she love her crew: Colin (Francetta) of Dartmouth, Maureen (Bob Forbes) of Riverview, Cynthia of Toronto, John Pat of Halifax, Jim (Sandra Hum) of Dartmouth and Brad (Krista) of Bathurst. Grandchildren: Clark (Amit), Johnathan (Ashley), Andrew, Patrick (Julie), Jillian (Jim), Ivan (Laura), Eric, Grace, Liam, Anna and great grandchildren Jacob, Danika, Maeve and Neil. We were so lucky to have her in our lives.

Mom cherished her friends. Seriously good friends like Millie McLaughlin and her entire family (including Mom’s sweet goddaughter, Claire), Dee Dee Davidson, the late Keith Loupelle, Judy & John McAloon, the Gionets, the Jenkins and Deena & Pascal Boudreau. You’ve been such good friends to Mom and you’ll never know how much we appreciate it.

Special thanks to Dr Tony Wade and his staff, especially Jill McLaughlin and Myrna Chamberlain who took such good care of Mom through the years. Thank you to Dr Patrick Eddie, Dr Manon Belliveau and Dr Fatimah Al-Ani.

We know we have to let her go.

Our heads are telling us.

But our hearts insist we keep her close.

How do you say goodbye?

By sharing a loving smile and a hearty hug.

The way Mom liked it.

Funeral mass to be held at Holy Family Church at 2 p.m. Monday October 24th with reception to follow in the church basement.

Arrangements are in the care of Elhatton’s Funeral Home (www.elhatton.com), Bathurst.