Obituary for Iona Mae Pineo
Grateful for a life well- lived, it is with sadness that the family of Iona Mae Pineo announce her passing on February 28, 2020, 2 days after her 91st birthday.
Born February 26, 1929 in Yarmouth, she was the daughter of Arnold and Blanche (Watkins) Nickerson. Married on her 16th birthday, she embarked on an adventure-filled life as an army wife and mother. That meant moving every 2 or 3 years, from coast to coast of Canada as well as the Yukon and West Germany. It was there that Mom taught us to be curious about the world around us and to be respectful and interested in meeting new people. She was stoic to a fault and instilled in us confidence to face whatever life has to offer, even if life sometimes takes a detour from what we expected. We always knew we were loved. She was famous in our family for having the ability to have our home completely packed and ready to move, 24 hours after Dad announcing that we had been posted to some new place. She took this all in stride and was a great comfort to each of us despite the upheaval and distress these frequent moves caused. How she and Dad spent 2 weeks driving from B.C. to New Brunswick with 4 kids, a cat and tent-trailer ("Mom, he looked at me!") is a wonder.Following their life in the military Mom and Dad settled in South Ohio and enjoyed their retirement that included being Snowbirds spending winters in Florida for a number of years. After Dad passed away in 2001, Mom lived on her own until the ravages of dementia made that impossible, at which time she moved in with Pat and Nil who have been steadfast in the care of her until it became time to go into a nursing home. She spent a year at Roseway Manor in Shelburne and then her last few weeks at the Meadows in Yarmouth. We shall be forever grateful for the loving care and kindness shown her and our family at both nursing homes. We thank you all for making Mom's last year as comfortable as possible.Mom is survived by her children Patricia (Nil) Muise, David (Bob) and Stephen (Diane) and daughter-in-law Patti; grandchildren Judy (Danika), Jason (Kasia), Sarah (Ryan) and Aleksandr (Sherri), as well as great- grand-daughter Edeline. She is also survived by brother and sister-in-law Arnold (Uncle Bunny) and Pauline, sister Betty and brother-in-law Richard (Agnes) Robicheau , sister-in-law Joyce, brother-in-law Mel (Marina) ; as well as many nieces and nephews.She was predeceased by her husband Merle Carleton Pineo, son Gregory (Tony) and grand-daughter Rosemary; brothers and sisters Muriel, Doris, Lloyd, Joyce, Gerald and Constance.A viewing will be at Sweeny's Funeral Home, Main Street, Yarmouth on Wednesday, March 4th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm with funeral service on Thursday, March 5 at 2:00 from Sweeny's Funeral Home, with interment in Chebogue Point Cemetary at a later date to be announced. A reception will then be held at Yarmouth North Baptist Church. Everyone is welcome to come share a time of comfort and stories. As per Mom's wishes, family flowers only. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Heart and Stroke foundation would be appreciated.
Born February 26, 1929 in Yarmouth, she was the daughter of Arnold and Blanche (Watkins) Nickerson. Married on her 16th birthday, she embarked on an adventure-filled life as an army wife and mother. That meant moving every 2 or 3 years, from coast to coast of Canada as well as the Yukon and West Germany. It was there that Mom taught us to be curious about the world around us and to be respectful and interested in meeting new people. She was stoic to a fault and instilled in us confidence to face whatever life has to offer, even if life sometimes takes a detour from what we expected. We always knew we were loved. She was famous in our family for having the ability to have our home completely packed and ready to move, 24 hours after Dad announcing that we had been posted to some new place. She took this all in stride and was a great comfort to each of us despite the upheaval and distress these frequent moves caused. How she and Dad spent 2 weeks driving from B.C. to New Brunswick with 4 kids, a cat and tent-trailer ("Mom, he looked at me!") is a wonder.Following their life in the military Mom and Dad settled in South Ohio and enjoyed their retirement that included being Snowbirds spending winters in Florida for a number of years. After Dad passed away in 2001, Mom lived on her own until the ravages of dementia made that impossible, at which time she moved in with Pat and Nil who have been steadfast in the care of her until it became time to go into a nursing home. She spent a year at Roseway Manor in Shelburne and then her last few weeks at the Meadows in Yarmouth. We shall be forever grateful for the loving care and kindness shown her and our family at both nursing homes. We thank you all for making Mom's last year as comfortable as possible.Mom is survived by her children Patricia (Nil) Muise, David (Bob) and Stephen (Diane) and daughter-in-law Patti; grandchildren Judy (Danika), Jason (Kasia), Sarah (Ryan) and Aleksandr (Sherri), as well as great- grand-daughter Edeline. She is also survived by brother and sister-in-law Arnold (Uncle Bunny) and Pauline, sister Betty and brother-in-law Richard (Agnes) Robicheau , sister-in-law Joyce, brother-in-law Mel (Marina) ; as well as many nieces and nephews.She was predeceased by her husband Merle Carleton Pineo, son Gregory (Tony) and grand-daughter Rosemary; brothers and sisters Muriel, Doris, Lloyd, Joyce, Gerald and Constance.A viewing will be at Sweeny's Funeral Home, Main Street, Yarmouth on Wednesday, March 4th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm with funeral service on Thursday, March 5 at 2:00 from Sweeny's Funeral Home, with interment in Chebogue Point Cemetary at a later date to be announced. A reception will then be held at Yarmouth North Baptist Church. Everyone is welcome to come share a time of comfort and stories. As per Mom's wishes, family flowers only. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Heart and Stroke foundation would be appreciated.