The death of Muriel Ross (MacDonald) Henderson, beloved wife of Arthur Henderson, of Fredericton occurred on Friday, July 6, 2007.
She was born in Greenwood, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, on December 26, 1923, and was the daughter of the late Harvey and Jessie MacDonald.
Muriel was a 1943 graduate of the Nova Scotia Provincial Normal School, and taught school for several years in MacLennan’s Mountain and Greenwood, Pictou County before her marriage. She was a life-long Presbyterian, and was very active in Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. She was a past president and Life Member of Lower Kingsclear Women’s Institute, and she served on the Provincial level of the New Brunswick Women’s Institute. She was a member of Victor Hatheway Chapter, IODE, where she served on several committees. She was a tireless worker for the disadvantaged of society, and knit thousands of pairs of mittens and slippers, hats and scarves for children in Fredericton as well as for those in Canada’s North. Her generosity knew no bounds.
In addition to her husband Arthur, she is survived by her dear children, Cheryl (David) Gordon of Guelph, Davida (Malcolm) Mackay of Halifax, Jeanne Kaye (Richard) Speight, Lloyd (Brenda) Henderson, and Tom (Cathy Scott) Henderson, all of Fredericton. She had 11 grandchildren, Brian Gordon, Cambridge, ON; Andrea Gordon-Beenhakker (Pieter Beenhakker), Guelph; Andrew Speight, Moncton; Peter Speight, Boston; Natalie Henderson, Ottawa; Alex, Suzanne and Heather Henderson, Matthew Henderson, and Jessie and Mharie Scott-Henderson, all of Fredericton. Also surviving are her brother, Leslie M. MacDonald, Stellarton, NS; and sister C. Louise Patterson, Toronto.
She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Jeanne K. (MacDonald) Beckwith, and her brother Avard Stewart MacDonald.
The funeral service was held at Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, July 10th, 2007 at 2:00 pm. Rev. Dr. Basil Lowery officiated. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 512 Charlotte Street, Fredericton NB E3B 1M2, the New Brunswick Women’s Institute Home for Senior Women in Woodstock NB, 65 Brunswick Street Room 279, Fredericton NB E3B 1G5, or a charity of the donor’s choice.