Obituary of Katherine Jeanne Reid
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Katherine "Jeanne" Reid.
Jeanne was born on April 28,1947, in St. Catharine’s, Ontario, to Robert Walter and Dorothy (Dolly) Blackwood. When she was 2 years old, her family moved back home to Stellarton, Nova Scotia, where she spent her formative years. She was a great student and enjoyed participating in sports and many social activities with her friends and family. She attended East Pictou Rural High graduating in 1965 with Honors. She pursued a degree in the RN program at Victoria General Hospital, but after just over a year in she left that course to marry her childhood friend and sweetheart Donald Reid.
Don and Jeanne moved to Montréal where they spent the next 50 years of their lives together. Jeanne started working at Sears Buying Offices and soon rose up the corporate ladder to become a fashion merchandiser. She occupied this position for 4 years before deciding to retire and start a family.
While enjoying the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom, Jeanne expanded her interests in cooking, gardening, sewing and volunteering and camping with family and friends.
She also played softball, basketball, bowling, enjoyed cross country skiing and joined a curling club. Sometime during all of that, she owned and operated a successful home-based craft business for over 20 years.
Then in the early 90's, Jeanne decided on new career and graduated Concordia University with a certificate in tourism. She joined CWT Travel as an independent travel advisor and prided herself in serving her clients well.
Her greatest passion became researching, planning and escorting small group tours all over the world. From European tours to African safaris to Asian adventures, to cruising the 7 seas. Visiting 6 continents, over 90 countries and checking off all 7 wonders of the world. Always with a sense of adventure and a little daring, she has even bungee jumped in New Zealand. She snorkeled on Great Barrier Reef and Red Sea, swam with sharks in Tahiti, rode elephants in Thailand, camels in Tunisia, and parasailed in Mexico. She walked on the Great Wall of China, saw sunrise at Machu Picchu and mountains in Uluru, practiced tai chi in Hong Kong, climbed a glacier, and of course experienced as many wine tastings she could all over the world!
In 2017, Don and Jeanne retired back to New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, reconnecting with family and friends. They continued to travel and winter in Mexico.
Jeanne is survived by her husband Donald Reid, 3 sons and daughters-in-law Philip
Blackwood (Sherry), Geoffrey Reid (Melanie), and Kevin Reid (Isabelle); as well as 6
grandchildren Robyn, Nicole, Christopher, Jeremy, Tristan and Willow; and 3 great grandchildren Hannah, Oliver and Lucas. She is also survived by her brothers Bert Blackwood (Penny) of Pictou, NS. and Corby Blackwood of Vernon, BC.
Jeanne deeply appreciated the amazing support she received from her family and friends during her struggle with cancer. Special mention to sisters-in-law Joanne Cumminger, Jean Power, Isabel Bonvie and Jane Pitts, as well as a very special shout out to friends Patti Aikens and June Mortell - you were there!
If Jeanne had some advice to give it, would be "Carpe Diem"!