Marlaine Finnegan

Finnegan, Marlaine Mary (Petrie) RN B.Sc.N.Ed.

Peacefully at home surrounded by family on Thursday, September 19, 2019 following a four year struggle with restrictive lung disease. Marlaine was predeceased by her father Harold Petrie, mother Ruth Sheehy and stepfather William Sheehy. She is survived by her husband of 47 years Paul, daughter Kathleen (Ryan Danaher), son Sean (Adrienne Moir) and grandchildren Max Moir and Florence and Fraser Finnegan as well as uncles Raymond MacGillivray (Patricia), Ken Isenor (the late Dolores) and aunts Christina MacGillivray and Patricia Clancy (Jim) as well as many cousins.

Marlaine was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and raised in New Waterford. Following high school she moved to Halifax where she completed her nursing training at the Nova Scotia Hospital graduating in 1967. A move to Ottawa followed that year when she enrolled in the University of Ottawa in the B.Sc.N.Ed. program graduating in 1969. After teaching nursing at Saint Michael’s Hospital in Toronto in 1969/70 she returned to Ottawa in 1970 to join the faculty of the Vanier School of Nursing (now Algonquin College) retiring in 2012. At the College she spent many years working with the academic staff union and in the health and safety field. For that work she was named the Health and Safety Professional of the Year by the Ottawa and District Labour Council in 2010.

Marlaine was an avid curler at Ottawa U, in Toronto and at the Navy Curling Club in Ottawa as well as being an active cross country and downhill skier. In later years gardening and relaxing in the pool replaced skiing and curling. Heading south to Florida provided a short break from winter for a number of years.

Family was always her first priority and she drew tremendous strength from being around her three grandchildren to the end of her life, always looking forward to their weekend visits or to visiting them when she was able.

Throughout her life Marlaine developed friendships that endured. She remained close to school friends from New Waterford and especially to her nursing school classmates and continued to participate in their regular five year reunions until 2015. She also enjoyed being part of the Greater Ottawa Reading and Discussion Group and formed many friendships as a result.

Marlaine was fortunate to have an amazing team of caregivers and we will be forever grateful to them. In particular we wish to thank Dr. Paul Hacker and Dr. Kamla Swami, Elizabeth Hughes, Derrick Jackson, Lindsay Wilson, Natalie Smith, Melody Busuttil and all the other members of the care team who helped to ease Marlaine’s journey. Doctors Inouye, Alikhan and Manzig were always there when Marlaine needed them.

The family invites you to join them at the Tubman Garden Chapel, 3440 Richmond Road, Nepean on Thursday, September 26 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM and on Friday, September 27 from 9:00 to 11:00 followed by a Celebration of Life in the chapel at 11:00 AM.  In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation (Acute Care of the Elderly Unit) or to the charity of your choice.