Obituary of Nellie Catherine Layden

Nellie Catherine Layden was born in Springdale, NB on November 21, 1919; she was the daughter of the late John and Lury (Goddard) Dunfield and the wife of the late Russel Layden who passed away January 7, 1989. Nellie devoted her life to caring for others. She went without many times so that others could have. She was the type of person that once you met her, you never forgot the kind and giving person she was. She had a great love for her family. She told many stories of her parents, brothers and sisters. Her love for them never wavered and she held them very close in her heart. Nellie loved to tell stories of the fun she had, whether it was when she was a child, stories about the dancehall in Goshen, or stories about the deer and moose in Goshen. Nellie loved to quilt and knit. She made many mittens for her grandchildren which lasted forever as they were made so well. She would sit for hours working on a quilt, taking care with every stitch. She loved working on crossword puzzles until her eyesight prevented her from doing that. She loved her nieces and nephews as if they were here own children and they were all very good to her. She loved to play auction when Sonny and Lorraine were home and this went on for many years. She was always Lorraine's partner and she always found it funny that Sonny had Russel, Terry and her grandson Russel as his partners over the years. When Sonny died, Nellie felt a huge void in her life as she loved Sonny very much as he was like a son to her. Terry and Faye were her life and she did whatever she could to help them out through the years. When Terry and Carol were married, she made Carol her own. Scott, Kathleen, Russel, Matt and Trisha were very precious to her and she did what she could for them as well. She was very proud of her grandchildren and worried about them constantly. Over the years, as everyone got busy with their lives, Nellie found she had less and less to do. Nellie had to be busy or she didn't feel needed. So, until her death, the laundry room was her domain and Terry, Carol, Kat and Russ did everything they could to make sure she had something to do everyday. This was a full time job for her and she truly loved every minute of it. Even in her nineties, Nellie would get supper ready one night a week and made rolls once a month. Nellie's faith was what helped her through difficult times in her life. She loved her Church and not a night went by that she did not say her prayers. Not a trip to Boston happened without the car and everyone in it being doused with holy water and the rosary said along the way. Nellie will be missed, not only for her generosity, her cooking, her love of music and dancing, but mostly by those who knew her best, for "Jesus, Mary and Joseph". We knew someone went too far when we heard that. Nellie will live on in the hearts of her daughter Faye of Dartmouth, NS and her son Terry and his wife Carol of Goshen; her five precious grandchildren; Scott, Matthew, Patricia, Kathleen and Russel, many nieces and nephews whom she thought of as her own children along with many great nieces and nephews. Nellie Catherine of Upper Goshen Road, Elgin, passed away at the Moncton Hospital, on January 20, 2016 at the age of 96. She is also predeceased by six brothers; Walter, Roy, Harry, Don, George and Havie, three sisters; Bertha Smith, Birdie (Doll) Smith, and Mary (Nae) Prosser Nellie is sitting at the right hand of the Father, truly at peace, rejoicing in the reunion of her family that had gone before her. She would not want tears for her death. She would want laughter and joy for her life. Arrangements have been entrusted to the compassionate care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, (506-433-1176). Visitation will be held from Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church Goshen, NB on Sunday January 24th from 2-4 and 6-8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church on Monday, January 25, 2016 at 10:00 am. If you are considering making a memorial donation the family has recommended The Peoples Serenity Garden. www.wallacefuneralhome.com