Fae Josephine Burnie

Fae Burnie passed to the hand of Jesus at the age of eighty-one, free of pain and at peace. Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother to her husband Thomas Burnie, her son David Burnie (Andria McKeown), granddaughters Katherine (aka Katie) and Victoria, and grandson Alexander. Fae was born in Saskatoon, the youngest daughter of Joseph and Monica Roberts (both deceased) with two older sisters, June Sears who resides in Grants Pass Oregon and Joyce Neaves who resides in Calgary.

Before her marriage, Fae held various positions as a young woman with the City of Calgary such as secretary to the Finance Commissioner and to the mayor. She also ran the Calgary riding office for the then Federal Minister of Agriculture – all by the age of twenty-five because of her congenial personality, her ability to collaborate with people and her work ethic.

In 1965, she met and married her soldier-husband. They immediately left for a 3-year posting to Iserlohn in northern Germany at the height of the Cold war where, in 1967, their son David was born in the British Military Hospital. In 1974, there was a second 3-year posting to Lahr in southern Germany. She also accompanied her husband to England for a one-year tour in 1987. At opportune times, Fae re-entered the work force with various government organizations in Calgary, Gagetown, Ottawa, and Victoria.

Marrying a soldier had its challenges and rewards. Fae organized 32 Burnie family homes resulting from eight postings across Canada and three in Europe. Like many service members’ spouses, she honed her skills of self-sufficiency and problem solving – particularly when living out of Canada and raising David while Tom was often away doing Army “stuff.”  There are many stories to be told regarding her perseverance – particularly in the Germany days – such as moving into a two room cold water flat with a coal stove and sharing a communal bathroom; or living in another apartment where the regular sound of a German tank battalion rolling by your bedroom window in the middle of the night influenced sleep; or being pulled from your car at gunpoint by the anti-terror police because you resembled a well-known female terrorist.  Living in German villages and towns away from the Canadian patch was more challenging as there were no telephones far less the idea of internet and cell phones. Communication was by letter writing and “surprise – I’m home” – when Tom returned from seeming unending deployments. Canadian postings also involved much time away from her husband – often months.

When Fae and Tom both retired, they moved to Medicine Hat for five years, before returning to Ottawa in 2001 to be near their grand children - watching with considerable pride as they matured into responsible teenagers and young adults. Fae and Tom became members of Knox Presbyterian Church where they renewed their wedding vows after 50 years. Fae was renowned for baking muffins for the congregation at coffee time following weekly service.

In keeping with Fae’s wishes and with COVID restrictions, good-byes are limited to a simple graveside service at Beechwood Military Cemetery on Friday, October 29 at 2:00 p.m. for anyone wishing to pay their respects. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar Street, Ottawa or to a charity of your choice.