Frances Allison (Firth) Gammon
1918 - 2015
Frances Allison (Firth) Gammon
Service Information
Service Date
Thursday November 29, 1015
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Frances died peacefully with her daughter Carolyn present on November 18, 2015 at the York Care Centre, Fredericton. She was 97. Frances was born in Campbellton, NB on Sept. 2, 1918. She was top of her high school class and went on to Normal School in Fredericton graduating as a teacher in 1939. Working in rural NB schools, Frances earned her way to the University of New Brunswick where she graduated with honors in 1943 in English and history, earning the Douglas Gold Medal for essay writing. In 1945 she obtained her M.A. in history and worked as Assistant Professor in the history department. Frances was a member of the Bliss Carman Society of poets and a founding member of The Fiddlehead literary magazine. She set up the UNB archives and was its passionate first archivist for seven years before attending Library School in Toronto with her freshly acquired husband and fellow poet, Donald Byron Gammon.

Returning to spend the rest of her life in Fredericton, Frances raised four baby-boomers while maintaining her interest and participation in the arts. She also loved to swim, ski and bike and did so well into her 80s. Pre-deceased by her husband Donald, and her sister Marian Watling, Frances is survived by her sister Leona Toner, and by her children Geoffrey Gammon in Fredericton and his partner Renee Losier and her children Francis, Julianne and Alex Bischoff; Peter Gammon and his wife Daisy in St. John’s, and their children Krista, Scott and Shauna; Jennifer Douglas and her husband Dan of Sardis, BC and their son Eric; Carolyn Gammon and her partner Katharina Oguntoye of Berlin, Germany and their son Noel; and a foster-daughter Jeanne Bango of Montreal and her daughter Dior.

 A memorial will be held on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015 at 4.30 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Building (3 Bailey Dr.) For those who wish, donations may be made to the UNB Archives (506 458 7594). Despite her advanced age, Frances continued to enjoy her Grand Lake cottage until this summer. She entertained friends and family with her witty comments on life, a few of which are included below:

 

*The past seems more solid than the future.

*The nearer you can get to forever, the better.

*I’d hate to go to the next world without being quoted.

*I am spoiled with wellness.

*Come soon. I’m getting older every minute.

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