Obituary of Eva Thorburn-McBean

The passing of Eva Thorburn-McBean of Fredericton, NB, wife of Harry McBean, occurred on March 2, 2011 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Born on May 27, 1927 in Debec, NB, she was the daughter of the late Wallace and Hazel (Durling) Wright. She was a member of St. George’s Anglican Church, McAdam, NB and more recently St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Spring Hill, NB. Eva was a former caregiver at Rocmaura Nursing Home, Saint John, NB. Eva’s life was shaped by events that both happened and did not happen in her life. The education she so wanted did not happen because of financial and environmental constraints. The homecoming she so looked forward to with her beloved brother did not happen because of an artillery volley north of Ortono, Italy on May 19, 1944. For all these reasons Eva’s life was defined by service to family, veterans, and books that would give her knowledge she was never formally able to embrace. During the war, she left her rural home in Debec to follow her sisters to McAdam Train Station lunch counter and a good job. McAdam provided her with friends, her cherished family and the Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary which enabled her to serve the memory of her fallen brother, Maurice. She was Past President of the Auxiliary and had recently received her life membership pin. Eva loved to cook for family and friends, loved curling, a good book, sunsets, lilacs and a good game of cards. In addition to her husband, Eva is survived by her daughter, Mary Moffitt (Gordon) of Fredericton, NB; son, Fraser Thorburn (Claire) of Port Moody, BC; grandchildren, Matthew, Stephen, Marcia, Geoffrey, Melissa, Tamara and Michael; great granddaughter, Isabel; sisters, Muriel Crabbe of Brownville Junction, Maine, Wyona Kaine of Bridgeport, Conn. and Madeline Little (Archie) of McAdam, NB; brothers, Arthur Wright (Mary) of Debec, NB and Russell Wright (Alta) of Bath, NB; many cherished nieces and nephews. Beside her parents, she was predeceased by her first husband, Howard Joseph Thorburn; daughter, Kathleen May Johnston; sisters, Gladys Lewis, Ina McHatten, Illa Wright and Marion McFarlane; brothers, infant Murray and Sgt. Maurice Wright. A Memorial Service will take place at St. George’s Anglican Church, McAdam, NB on Monday, March 7, 2011 at 2 pm with Rev. Arnold Godsoe officiating. Interment will take place at Rockland Cemetery at a later date. For those who wish, remembrances may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com