Surrounded by family, Louise left us far too soon the evening of March 19, 2019 in Ottawa, at the age of 70. Beloved mother of Belinda Batten (Dave) and grandmother of Jessica and Bryce. Cherished sister of four D’Eons: Joyce (Dan), Florence, and Mike (Carol), and the late Jack (Barb). She also leaves dear nieces Faye, Angela, Anna, Jennifer, Danielle, Susan and Michelle and nephews David and John, and their families. Louise was predeceased by her loving partner John Sanders in October 2018 and by her husband Chris Baird in 2008. She has dear cousins from both her father's (Hubert D'Eon) and mother's (Isabelle Doucette) side, in Canada, the U.S., and in New Zealand.
Louise lived her life to the fullest, with a huge circle of friends and family, from near and far. She enjoyed her relatives and a summer home in West Pubnico, Nova Scotia, near where her parents met. In the winter Louise often stayed in Puerto Vallarta where family and friends would join her. She was a person of the world, travelling all her life, and open and accepting of people everywhere. Most recently, John showed her his beloved India and Scotland.
After graduating with a degree in journalism from Carleton University in 1978, Louise enjoyed a varied and stimulating career in communications and media relations, with the Alberta Forest Service, and notably at the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa, which took her to countries in Asia and Africa; one of her cherished memories was meeting Nelson Mandela. Her last working years were at the Department of National Defence. She was devoted to international development, science journalism, and human rights.
We are grateful for the innovative treatment she received at the Cancer Centre at the Ottawa Hospital and the caring staff and volunteers at May Court Hospice.
A Celebration of Louise’s Life will be held at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave, Ottawa on Sunday, April 7, 2019 from 3 to 5PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to a fund Louise developed to support journalists in lower income countries, see the World Federation of Science Journalism (wfsj.org) - specifying that the donation is for the "Louise Behan Reporting Grant". Alternatively, donations can be made to the Hospice Care Ottawa - May Court Hospice.