Heather Jane Williams (nee Wilson)

Heather Jane Williams (nee Wilson) was born 23 September 1946, in Halifax, Nova Scotia and passed away unexpectedly on 13 March 2026, while attending the emergency department of Cobequid Community Health Centre to investigate abdominal pain. Heather was the daughter of the late Walter “Bus” Edmund and Gertrude Margaret Wilson (nee Bryden) and predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Gail Margaret and Gordon “Mac” Carlisle, Fredericton, New Brunswick. She is survived by her younger sister Phyllis Ruth Dubé (Tim), Orleans, Ontario. Heather will be missed by many cousins, nieces and nephews the children and descendants of her mother’s brothers Lloyd (Esther) Bryden and Gordon (Anne) Bryden; her sisters Beatrice Wakelin, Ruth (Ken) Rainier, Shirley (Jim) MacBurnie and Bernie (Dan) MacIsaac. She is also survived by her husband of 52 years Leonard “Len” Melvin Williams, Moody Hall, Bedford; her youngest daughter Sarah Jane Williams (Alan Hogan), Porters Lake; and her eldest daughter Kimberly Margaret Berry (Paul), Halifax. Heather was a proud and loving grandmother of Kimberly and Paul’s children: Marine Gemeda, Halifax; Abel Gemeda (Kal Gebre), Lower Sackville; and Keya Margaret Jane Gemeda, Halifax. Heather died six months before her 80th birthday. Heather graduated High School from Halifax West in 1965. While married to her first husband Terrence “Terry” Valerie (Linda) Lorette, she had her first child, Kimberly Margaret, in 1967. Heather and Terry were divorced in 1970. She pursued a career in nursing and graduated from Victoria General Hospital School of Nursing in 1969, obtained her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Dalhousie University in 1974, and graduated with a Masters of Nursing degree in 1981. She worked at the Victoria General Hospital, Halifax, until shortly after she married Len Williams in December 1974 and moved to Sarnia, Ontario. While in Sarnia, she worked as a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital and as a Clinic Instructor at Lampton College. While in Sarnia Len adopted Kimberly in May 1976. She, Len and Kimberly returned to Halifax and Heather worked at the Dartmouth General Hospital and Victoria General Hospital before joining the team at the Fairview Villa Long-Term Care Facility (now Maplestone Enhanced Care - Shannex) as Director of Nursing in 1990. While part of the team at Fairview Villa the facility secured two three-year accreditations and piloted newly introduced standards for the second accreditation. In 1997, having sustained a workplace injury, her nearly 30-year nursing career ended and she never returned to the paid workforce. In 2000 Heather and Len moved to Orleans, Ontario. She channeled her energy into creative endeavours and produced beautiful quilted works that won awards and accolades at various quilting shows including Common Thread Quilt Guild shows and Ottawa Valley Quilters Guild (OVQG) Festival of Quilts. She delved into other arts and also created water-colours. She enjoyed hosting dinners, celebrating holidays, and important milestones with drink and food. Although a reluctant cyclist, with a poor sense of direction, she embraced cycling with Len and her family. She enjoyed many ‘bike camps’ in Buctouche, NB, with her extended family. Heather valued her memories of special trips she enjoyed with family. She was able to visit Jasper, Alberta when her daughter Sarah worked at Jasper Park Lodge. She explored California with her cousin Ian and Uncle Jim MacBurnie and enjoyed her visit to Germany with her cousin Eric MacBurnie’s partner Irmegard “Irmi” Scherer. Heather and Len enjoyed trips to Mexico and were disappointed when their long hoped for trip to Italy was cancelled because of Covid. Heather and Len returned to Bedord in 2021 during Covid to be closer to their daughters and their families including the grandchildren. She reconnected with cherished friends in the Maritimes and enjoyed growing her social network with new friends at Luxor Blu, staff and members of the support group at the Alzheimer’s Society, and acquaintances in the community including staff and customers at the Esquire Restaurant. Since 2024, Heather had been lovingly caring for Len who had been diagnosed with dementia. His decline was rapid and he had been placed at Moody Hall in February, twenty-one days before Heather passed away. The Williams-Hogan-Berry-Gemeda-Gebre family is devastated by the entirely unexpected loss of our Matriarch. According to Heather’s wishes cremation has taken place and no funeral will be held. A celebration of life will be planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to a charity of your choice or, in memory of Heather, find something that brings you joy and share it with someone you love. .

Heather Jane Williams (nee Wilson)

September 23, 1946 - March 13, 2026