Biography

Nancy Marie Shiner (nee Power) 76 years of age 237 Herbert Street, Sydney, Nova Scotia Date of death 23 December 2022 At QE2 Health Centre, Halifax Cause: Brain Aneurism Born the 8th of May, 1946 in Halifax, NS to parents Roy and Vera Power (deceased); Nancy was one of four children. Growing up on Elm Street with her sisters, Patricia Hazell, and Denise Sommerfeld and her brother Thomas Power, Nancy showed an ability for drawing at an early age, this skill helped her throughout her life as she drew, made stained glass windows, sculpted, and made pottery. Told that she needed a skill to fall back on Nancy went into nursing, graduating from the Halifax Infirmary in 1967. Nancy joined the Canadian Army as a Nursing Officer in 1970. Her 20-year military career included qualification as a Flight Nurse and certification as an ICU Nurse. The Canadian Forces sent her to university where she completed a BN at Dalhousie University in 1987. Nancy received the Canadian Decoration, and both the Silver and Diamond Queen Elizabeth II medals. In 1983 Nancy received the Chief of National Defence Bravery Citation for running into a burning house to save an infant before the fire department arrived. Nancy liked learning so much she went on to earn an honours BA in history from Mount Saint Vincent University (1995) and an MA in history from Dalhousie University in 1998. Both degrees were completed while Nancy continued to work, and they reflected her lifelong interest in the History of Nursing. Nancy married Donald Shiner at Halifax in July of 1971. Both were Army Officers and they had to apply to their Commanding Officers for permission to marry. Nancy also needed permission to stay in the Army when she became pregnant with Christopher who was born in Brandon Manitoba in December 1973. At the time Nancy was the first serving officer formally allowed to continue her service after pregnancy. Jennifer, their second child, was born in 1975 in Kingston Ontario. After leaving the Canadian Forces in 1990, Nancy worked in the Research Office of Dalhousie Medical School managing a number of research projects. In 1998 Nancy joined the NS Medical Examiners Office as an Investigator and not long after was assigned as an investigator to the Swiss Air crash of September 1998. Never one to sit still Nancy was the driving force behind the purchase in 2000 of a two-storey school built in 1886, located near Mahone Bay. What followed was a 3-year project of restoration and creation of the School House Tea Room. They had a great time working on this together providing they stuck to their respective jobs. Nancy was the cook and prepared the food and Don was the waiter, bused and made the tea. Both did the clean-up at the end of the day. The School House provided many new experiences but in 2008, Nancy decided it was time to retire. They closed the Tea House and sold the building. In retirement Nancy was an active member of the Nursing Officers Association of Nova Scotia and served as its President to the present. Nancy worked as a volunteer with the Halifax Regional Police in their Victim Services Unit and in 2017 was named Volunteer of the year for the HRP. Nancy volunteered with the Out-of-the-cold shelter in Halifax for a number of years often taking the overnight supervision role; she was a member of Silent Witness and the Grandmothers to Grandmothers action group, part of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Recently Nancy and Don had moved to Sydney, NS to be closer to Jennifer Shiner, her husband Donnie Hawco and their grandchildren, Abbie and Alex. Nancy is survived by her loving husband Donald, her children Mary (David Storwick), Christopher (CarolAnne), Jennifer (Donnie Hawco), and grandchildren Erin, Alexander and Abagail. Nancy wanted to be cremated and not to have any form of service and these wishes have been followed. In lieu of flowers please donate to any of the charities listed above.