FINLEY – Nan V.
March 01, 1933 – August 28, 2010
NAN V FINLEY, our dynamic, vivacious Mum, will always be known for her dazzling smile, her blue-eyed sparkle and her contagious laugh. Nan Finley lit up a room. Within minutes, you felt you’d known her an eternity. She knew your heart…she shared your spirit…she spoke your language. Nan had your back, and warmed you to the core with a spirit that moved mountains.
Nan (daughter of Verna Clarke and Leslie Kennedy) was born in Westmount, Montreal in 1933 where she attended Roslyn School, Compton Hall for Girls, and McGill University before being swept off her feet by Alan H Finley, MD whom she married at “only TWENTY for heaven’s sake”. Three children followed “far too closely” and the whirlwind of family life took Nan to Boston, Los Angeles, and Nairobi…(with travels to Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Orient) before arriving in Calgary in 1971. A world traveller…her home (and heart) remained at Lac Cornu, Quebec…
Nan plunged into volunteer work and fundraising for various charities, devoting 17 years to CUSO, as a Recruitment Officer on the SAIT campus. Her “acceptance rate” by Head Office in Ottawa was 100 percent: if you were endorsed by Nan you went straight to the top.
More than “young at heart”, the generations blurred in her company. She was first with a cassette tape recorder, a walk-about phone, a CD player and finally, a Laptop. She was the first in her group to use on-line banking, “friend” her grandchildren on Facebook (aka “FaceLift”), and invite her buddies at Trinity over to watch a DVD on her flat-screen TV.
A woman ahead of her time, Nan knew when to “put her feet up” and find her heart in the people she loved: her three children Brenda (Martin Scott), Donna (Martin Lesperance), and Brian (Donna Bennett); her five grandchildren (Ben, Becca, Jeff, Adam and Mary); her two sisters (Shirley Love and family; Lali and Dick Jones and family); the “life-long friends” she never knew she had (!) at Trinity Lodge; and many, many others.
Nan’s devotion to home and family, her relish for the stock market, her passion for music and the arts live on in her children, grandchildren, and the countless people she touched. A Celebration of the Life of our remarkable Mum will be held at Trinity Lodge (Calgary) on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. Later this month, we’ll gather in the Laurentians amidst the glorious colours of a Quebec autumn. Thank you with all our hearts, Nan…Gran Nan…Mum. (Mercy! That was long.)
Mum would appreciate your donation to the Westben Arts Festival Theatre (www.westben.ca).
Print Obituary & Condolences
Best wishes to all your family as you cope with your loss and celebrate her life.
Anne and Ron
Brian, Donna, Ben and Adam,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Trish, Paul and Christian
To all the Finleys and extended family -our deepest condolences on the loss of this exceptional woman who gave us such wonderful friends in her children and grandchildren. We had the priviledge of meeting Nan at performances at the Westben Festival and always felt her absence when she wasn’t in the theatre. She affected the whole audience with her passion and effusiveness and was our personal favourite. God bless.
Gabrielle and Bob
We are so thankful we had the opportunity to get to know your Mom. She certainly made an impact on us, so full of life and vivacious as you have described her. We are with you in spirit as you gather with those closest to her and celebrate the many joyful memories. What a legacy! Our love to you. …the Keenes
Brian, Donna, Brenda and family,
What a lovely tribute to an amazing woman !! You must have so many wonderful memories that I’m sure you will treasure and cherish in the years to come. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Nancy
Brenda, Donna and Brian,
My deepest sympathies to all of you. I have some great memories of your mom and how her “go-for-it” attitude and sense of humor was a breath of fresh air as we were all struggling with those transitional teen and young adult years while living in Kelvin Grove. Later, she was THE person who inspired, supported and helped me to embark on my CUSO adventure which had such a positive impact on my life. She was a remarkable woman and touched so many lives ~ my thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Nancy