Obituary of Eileen Wallace

F. Eileen Wallace, ONB, DLitt, of Fredericton, NB passed away peacefully on January 27, 2025, at Windsor Court.  She was predeceased by her parents, Murray and Alice (Brown) Wallace as well as her sisters, Alta Davenport, Vivian (Steeves), and Madeline (Tufts).

Born in Maplewood, York County in 1924, Eileen received a BA from the University of New Brunswick. She continued her education at the University of Toronto from which she received her BLS in 1946, followed by an AMLS from the University of Michigan and later a diploma in French from the University of Paris. 

Eileen’s career and community service reflected her deep commitment to childhood education.  Her position as a librarian and driver of a bookmobile in rural Ontario in the 1950s impressed upon her the importance of reading for all children.  She returned to Fredericton, joining the New Brunswick Teachers College as a librarian and instructor in library science, which she taught in both French and English. She was later appointed UNB’s first professor of children’s literature, sharing her passion and expertise with generations of teachers. 

Upon her retirement in 1989, Eileen donated a collection of children’s books to UNB.  These form the nucleus of what is now the Eileen Wallace Children’s Literature Collection in the Harriet Irving Library.   With more than 15,000 titles, it is the largest research collection of its kind in Atlantic Canada.  Wanting to ensure that future generations had access to this important collection, Eileen created an endowment that provides financial support for fellowships, acquisitions and curation.

Eileen, an adventurous world traveller, was active in the Grace Memorial Baptist Church, participated with Meals on Wheels as a volunteer driver, served on the UNB Associated Alumnae Council and was a long-time member of the Fredericton Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women.

In 1998 the Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick presented Eileen with the Early Childhood Literacy Award.  In recognition of her lifelong commitment to literacy and childhood education, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from UNB in 2001 and in 2018 Eileen was inducted into the Order of New Brunswick.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025 at 2:00 pm at Grace Memorial Baptist Church, 536 Northumberland St., Fredericton. 

For those who wish, donations in Eileen's memory can be made to the Eileen Wallace Children’s Literature Collection at the University of New Brunswick unb.ca/memorialgift, 506-447-3122 or Memorial Gifts c/o Development & Donor Relations, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3

Arrangements have been entrusted to McAdams Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence, please visit mcadamsfh.com.