Obituary of Sandra Devlin

Sandra Devlin passed away peacefully on February 1, 2006 at the Moncton Hospital following a valiant struggle with cancer. Her wit, insight, strong will and bottomless heart will be missed by the many people whose lives she touched. Born in Saint John, NB, Nov. 28, 1946, Sandra was the daughter of Ellen Eileen (Mills) Hosford and the late Harold Edwin Hosford (2004). Besides her mother, Sandra is survived by her daughter, Shonda Joy Secord (her husband, Pierre Rondeau), of Rosemere, Que., and her son, Matthew Kenneth Secord (his wife, Annette), of Dartmouth. She is also survived by her loving and dedicated caregiver, Michael Harpell; three grandchildren, Ariel Rebecca Rondeau, William Benjamin Rondeau and Lauren Paige Susan Secord; her brother, Michael Hosford (his partner, Betty Holt); nieces, Kelley and Jill Hosford; and her ex-husband, Donald Secord, Halifax. Besides her father, Sandra was predeceased by her second husband, Rodney V. Devlin, in 2003. Sandra was a graduate of Moncton High School and alumnae of St. Francis Xavier University. She received her teaching licence from Holland College in 1992. She belonged to St. Paul's United Church, Riverview, where her parents were pioneer members. She was a member of Elmwood Cemetery Board of Directors, Society of Family History Writers and Editors, Canadian Association of Journalists, Moncton Press Club, Canada's National History Society, Club 31 RAF Veterans Club, Air Force Veterans Club, New Brunswick Genealogical Society - Southeastern Branch and New England Historic and Genealogical Society. After over 25 years in print journalism with such papers as the Frederiction Daily Gleaner, Guelph Daily Mercury (Ont.), New Glasgow Evening News (NS), Truro Daily News (NS) and Northern Daily News (Kirkland Lake, Ont.), Sandra launched a successful freelance career in 1996, the foundation of which was her self-syndicated genealogy newspaper column, Missing Links. Missing Links was published over the years in 17 newspapers in Atlantic Canada. For nearly 11 years, Sandra also wrote a weekly opinion column, In Other Words, in The Guardian, Charlottetown. She was a contibutor to many other publications and was honoured with multiple awards. In the early 1990s, she was a journalism instructor at Holland College, Charlottetown. From 2000 to 2003, she worked in community relations for Southeast Regional Health Care Authority. At the time of her death, Sandra was working on a true crime novel. Resting at the Riverview Funeral Home, 214 Pine Glen Rd. on Sunday February 5, 2006 from 2:00 - 4:00pm & 7:00 - 9:00pm. The funeral service and time of sharing memories of Sandra will be held at the Riverview Funeral Home on Monday February 6, 2006 at 2:00pm with Rev. Shawn Redden officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery in the spring. In Sandra's memory, donations made to The Friends of The Moncton Hospital 'Jim Clements Education Fund', or The Dr. G.L. Dumont Hospital Oncology Unit would be appreciated by her family. Funeral arrangments have been entrusted to The Riverview Funeral Home, 214 Pine Glen Rd. (506)857-9544.