Kelly Lynn Deal

A celebration of life for Kelly will take place on Monday, June 10^th at 2:00 p.m. in St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 120 Mill Street, Berwick.

Kelly Lynn Deal, age 53, of Springhill, formerly of New Minas and Berwick. Kelly was born in the old BFM Hospital on May 3, 1970, to Rita (Oneil) Deal and John Freeman Deal of Kentville. With saddened hearts and many tears, her family said goodbye to a lovely daughter, sister, mother and grandmother. Kelly died on February 15^th in the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, Amherst, losing her battle with mental health issues in a health system that has too many patients and not enough facilities and staff to help them. Kelly attended schools in New Minas and Gaspereau and graduated from Horton District High School. Wanting to take a break from formal education, she took a position as a nanny in Kingston, ON. While there, she had a tour of the Parliament Building and got to see St. Mother Teresa who spoke to Parliament at the same time. She also took part in the annual Pro-Life Rally that is still be held in year in Ottawa. Returning from Ontario, she resumed her education pursuit and enrolled in the Halifax Business Academy and on completing her business degree, she found employment with Midland Transport and later in a medical office. After her marriage to John Nowe, and the birth of her son, she was a stay-at-home mom to Jared and his two sisters. When she later moved back to the Valley, she completed a Continuing Care Assistance (CCA) course and worked at Heart of the Valley Nursing Home in Middleton and Grand View Manor, Berwick, until her mental health deteriorated, and she could no longer continue. Kelly was a voracious reader of books on many topics and could often be found with a book in her hand and a cat by her side. Wherever she lived, she enjoyed her walks and also her Tims tea and coffee. Along the way, Kelly had many good friends over the years, some of whom were much older than her and had health issues and these she would assist with chores or errands or just a visit. Her daughter Olivia remarked to me one day "Mom took care of other people better than she cared for herself." As a child, Kelly especially liked being anywhere there was water to play in. The family spent hours at the beach in Kingsport and Evangeline Beach as well as Mary and Clark Ward’s cottage at Murphy Lake. Left behind to mourn her loss are her son, Jared Nowe, Dartmouth; daughters, Olivia Nowe, Sackville, NB, and Lauren Nowe, Milton, mother of Kelly’s precious grandbaby, one year old Ophelia, also Kelly’s former husband, John Nowe, Milton. Her last gift to us was another daughter, Rosalyn Grace Deal who lives in Springhill with her father, Terry Rushton. Also mourning her is her mother, Rita Deal-Roefs and stepfather, Anthony Roefs, Berwick; her brothers, Chris, his wife, Alison MacDonald and their daughters Katelyn and Hailey, all of Lantz; Tym, his wife, Barb Morrow, Dartmouth and their daughters, Taylor and Hannah; aunts, Anne O’Neil, Summerland, BC; Diane (Gord) Onieu, Leduc, AB; Mary Ellen Skillings and Pat Foster, both of Woodstock, ON; special aunt, Audrey (late Wayne) Deal of Wolfville, who always inquired about Kelly’s health. Uncle, Don (Helena) Deal, Canaan; aunt, Ellen O’Neil (late Peter), Dalem Lake, Cape Breton; uncle, John Helm (the late Joan Deal), Tidnish Bridge; her Cape Breton cousins, Carolyn (Jimmy) Marsh, Monica O’Neil and Sherry (Ches) Miles; and many other cousins and extended family. Kelly had some wonderful friends throughout her life for which her family is very thankful. A very big and heartfelt thank you especially to Carmen and Frances Hawley and their daughter Sandra White of Greenwich and also to Peter and Marlee Dietert and family of Berwick. As well as to the gals who shared her first apartment in Halifax, Kim, Velma and Julie. We truly believe that Kelly is now at peace with the God who gave her life, and she is lonely no more. Kelly had roots in Cape Breton as well. Her mother, Rita, was born in Florence, to Kelly’s late maternal grandparents, Peter and Gertie O’Neil. She was also predeceased by her loving father, John Freeman Deal and paternal grandparents, Joyce and Norman Deal. Interment of remains will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Kentville. Family members only. Those wanting to donate in Kelly’s memory can please consider Cystic Fibrosis Canada, the Canadian Diabetic Association or a charity of choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.