SAINT JOHN –
Mona Anne (Connolly) Black spent her working life at the General Hospital, and later the Saint John Regional Hospital, looking after geriatric patients. But her final days were spent at the Kings Way Care Centre in Qusipamsis, where she was the one being looked after, said her son Kevin.
Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease a few years ago, she managed to remain in her own home in Quispamsis until a little over a year ago, with the some extra-mural help, but then needed full-time care, he said.
Born in 1933 she grew up in Saint John where she met the love of her life, Walter Chester Black. “They married young, I think they were around 18 and 19,” Kevin said. His father died 22 years ago and his mother never looked for anyone else, Kevin said.
“I guess Mom was just waiting to get up there with him,” he said.
Their father had family roots in Cambridge Narrows and for the past 50 years the Blacks spent as much of the summer as they could up there, first camping, then with a trailer, before purchasing the old family homestead to restore it. “Years ago my bother (Robert) went into the old homestead with my father and they put on a new roof and fixed it up and Dad used it for quite awhile, and then when Dad passed Bobby went up and redid the home and moved up there,” Kevin said. It was a place his mother loved to spend time. “She was a city girl but she loved the Narrows,” he said.
Kevin (Sheri Boone), older brother Robert (Barb McCann) and younger brother Wendell (Cindy Milbury) grew up in Rockwood Court. The boys were all athletically inclined and enjoyed sports, especially baseball, fastpitch softball and hockey. Robert was a power-hitting catcher in baseball who made it to the senior level. Wendell was a standout during his minor hockey days, and went on to play junior and senior hockey. He has also gained acclaim in karate, competing on the national and international stages. Mona’s grandson Adam – Kevin and Sheri’s son – has won numerous provincial and Maritime boxing titles and has also medalled on the national stage.
All her grandchildren (Stephanie, Tricia, Adam and Natasha) were important to her and she loved being with them, Kevin said. He also remembered the good life the boys had in the courts. “Rockwood Court was a great place to grow up,” he said. “We had the Allison Grounds – football, hockey, baseball, South End Little League... and Lily Lake was right up over the hill.”
The Blacks became a larger family growing up when they took in nephews Donnie, Mike and John (Icki) O’Dell after the death of Mona’s sister Doris. John, who knew his way around the mound in fastpitch softball, has since passed away.
For many years, Mona looked after her family during the day and went to work at the General Hospital at night. “I know for a fact that she really enjoyed working,” Kevin said. Wendell remembered how Mona continued her caring ways when she took in a foster girl for a number of months when called upon. But she adapted well to retirement, going out for card games a few nights a week with her female friends. She loved to play cards and her favourite game was Canasta.
She belonged to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception from where her funeral mass was held a week ago. In the spring she will be reunited with her husband in a grave site overlooking Washademoak Lake, where he is buried.
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The Telegraph Journal, March 2nd, 2009.
[S50] New Brunswick Provincial Archives – Vital Statistics, (website).
1933 - 2009 (75 years)
. Robert BLACK, b. Est 1953 (Age 72 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
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: Not Set