Obituary of Clarissa Jane Hallett

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Clarissa Jane Hallett. After a very brief battle with cancer, Jane passed away peacefully at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital on May 16, 2020 surrounded by the love of her family. Born in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Jane was the daughter of the late William Bell Hallett and Ivy Clarissa (Clowater) Hallett. Jane is survived by her two sons, Darin Quinn (Carmen) and Ryan Quinn (Jayne), and her five granddaughters, Caitlin, Neala, Isabella, Abby and Ava Quinn, who were the light of her life. She is also survived by her brother, Ernest Hallett, her niece, Heather Hallett (Richard Sacobie), nephew, William Hallett (Michelle), her extended MacFarlane family, and her partner, Gary Hetherington, with whom she has enjoyed many adventures over the past several years. Jane grew up in Fredericton and graduated in the Fredericton High School class of 1964, from New Brunswick Teachers College in 1966 and obtained her Bachelor of Education from UNB in 1970. During her long and varied teaching career, Jane worked in a variety of positions and locations. After spending her first seven years as an elementary school teacher at Smythe Street School, she continued on as a teacher and principal at Kingsclear First Nation Elementary School where she developed an expertise and interest in Aboriginal education and culture. In 1991 she made an adventurous move to Kangiqsujuaq, Quebec, to teach for the Kativik School board in an isolated Inuit village. She spent 9 years there followed by another 6 years in Mistissini and Oujé-Bougoumou teaching for the Cree School Board. Jane loved teaching in the North and she left an imprint on the hearts of the people in the villages of her northern homes. Upon return to Fredericton she worked at FHS and continued working after retirement as a supply teacher and a volunteer for the Elementary Literacy Friends reading program at various elementary schools. She loved working with kids and sharing her love of reading with them. Jane was a gifted teacher who touched the heart of many students over the years with her patient and enthusiastic spirit. Jane was a kind, loving and generous person. She cherished and valued time spent with her family and friends above all else. She was very proud of her two sons and her family and after only having boys herself, was very excited to have five granddaughters to spoil. The girls loved their adventures together and time spent with Gramma, their favourite shopping partner. Her beautiful, radiant, young-at-heart personality and fancy style coined her title of "Glamma" with the girls, which made her smile. They adored her and she loved them dearly. Jane’s friends reach far and wide and she still remained close with many childhood friends and cousins, friends from her Lake George days, and her longtime best friends Isabel and Barb who were a constant source of fun and support. Jane was an avid gardener and loved flowers, butterflies, birds and being outside in nature. She will be remembered for her love of celebrating every holiday and the changing of seasons. She added so much joy and laughter to every celebration with her decorations, outfits, themes and effort to make everything into an event. Music and drama were an important part of her life from an early age and she was a beautiful singer. She loved to sing in choirs, productions and have sing songs with her family. Although her life ended too soon, Jane lived it to the fullest. She will be forever missed and loved but remembered for her heart of gold and generous spirit. She will live on in our hearts and memories daily. A graveside service and Celebration of Life will be held at a later date and arrangements have been entrusted to McAdam’s Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Elementary Literacy Friends program (https://elfnb.com) or the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital Foundation (https://www.chalmersfoundation.com).