Obituary of Vera Bruce Hankinson

Hankinson, Vera Bruce (Tupper),born in Bridgetown July 16, 1914 passed away in Mountain Lea Lodge, Bridgetown, Nova Scotia on Jun 7, 2015 just one month short of her 101st birthday. She was the 4th child of Letitia and James Howard Tupper. In 1934 Vera graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Halifax Children’s Hospital. Vera worked in the old Soldiers Memorial Hospital in Middleton and also assisted Dr. Edgar Kelly with his rural medical practice. She was invited in 2007, as one of the oldest alumni, to unveil a new stained glass window commemorating nursing at the IWK Children’s Hospital. Vera married Curtis Hankinson in 1938 and raised a family of three children; David, Roger and Jane. After a time in Middleton, Vera and Curtis moved to Weymouth, Nova Scotia where Vera was active in many health programs in the community including canvassing for the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Cancer and Diabetes. She was responsible for a Cancer Society work group that met regularly to prepare dressings for cancer patients, taught Red Cross home nursing and was called upon frequently to provide home care and first aid in cases of emergency in the community. She was active on the Digby County School Board, supported church activities and was a member of the Weymouth UCW. Vera became interested in art, producing many paintings and ceramic pieces for family and friends. Curtis and Vera moved from Weymouth to Bridgetown in 1993 and were one of the early residents of Crosskill Court. While there Vera was a volunteer with the VON, a member of the Community Health Board for Annapolis County and was one of the founding members of the group Doctors for Bridgetown. She moved to Mountain Lea Lodge May 19, 2010. Vera was predeceased by her parents, husband Curtis, brothers: Rev. Dr. Borden Tupper and Rev. Douglas Tupper and sister Viola Price, RN. She is survived by sons: David (Linda) of Paradise; Roger (Marguerite) of Weymouth; daughter Jane (Len) Hankinson-Penner of Steinbach, Manitoba; 6 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held Thursday June 11, 2015 from 7-9 p.m. and funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday with Rev. Glenn MacLean officiating both from the Kaulbach Family Funeral Home and Cremation Service,Bridgetown. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Bridgetown. Donations in Vera’s memory may be sent to the IWK Children’s Hospital, the Canadian Cancer Society or to a charity of one’s choice. On line condolences may be sent to www.kaulbachfamilyfuneralhome.com