Faye (Norma) Gunn passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on February 1st, 2025 after a brief illness. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, sister and nurse. Born in Chatham on August 27, 1941, to Hazen Wood Dickson and Mary Margaret (Hackett) Dickson she spent almost all her life in the Miramichi.
When she was young, she played basketball and was a member of CGIT, but she found her passion when she graduated from the Miramichi Hospital School of Nursing in 1962 and became a Registered Nurse. She started nursing at the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary, finished her active nursing at the Moncton City Hospital in 1992 and in early retirement conducted nutrition surveys for the federal and provincial governments. The majority of her career however - almost 25 years - was spent at the Medical Clinic in Newcastle, where she worked with Drs. MacKay, MacMillian, McKenzie and Keays. She loved being “the nurse at the clinic” and treasured the times when someone would say “you were my nurse” or “you gave me my needles”. Being the first medically trained family member she was also the “family doctor”, diagnosing illnesses, giving needles, removing sutures on kitchen tables, and generally keeping everyone healthy. She only surrendered her duties when her nephew married a nurse, and her youngest niece became one.
As much as she loved her job, she loved her family more. She married Leland Gunn in 1965 and they had one son, Cameron. When he had children, she found a second career spoiling her grandchildren, dressing them up in funny costumes, buying bags of eclectic used toys (which she would later re-donate) and baking her famous squares. Her love of family extended to her parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren. Their close family started in Napan but spanned the country. They assembled often to celebrate holidays, observe special events, travel together and, later, gather for what they called the “Cousin Crash”.
She is survived by her son Cameron and daughter-in-law Michelle (St-Onge), her beloved granddaughters Kelsey, Harper and Darcy, sisters Jean Fackler, Marion (Babe) Bransfield, brothers Plen Dickson and John Dickson, sister-in-law Elaine, many nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband Leland, her parents Hazen and Mary, her sister Helen Taylor-Clowater, her infant brother Norman, and her infant granddaughter Erin.
The family wish to express their deep appreciation and thanks to the Dr. Jill Watts, Drs. Theriault and Wong and the nurses and staff of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital, and to Jardine Funeral Home for their professionalism and kindness.
There will be a family gathering at the Napan Community Hall on Saturday February 8th at 1:00 p.m. followed by an open house from 1:30-4:00 p.m. Donations may be made in Faye’s memory to the Maple Glen Cemetery, the IWK Foundation or to a memorial of one’s choice. Condolences can be made online at www.miramichifunerals.ca.
Arrangements are entrusted to Jardine Funeral Home & Crematorium, 597 Old King George Highway, Miramichi, New Brunswick, 506-622-7464 or 506-622-3600.