Obituary of Alice Galley

GALLEY (LEIGHTON, LANTZ) , ALICE Alice Galley, 95, Windsor Elms Village, Falmouth and formerly of Bramber, died peacefully at the Windsor Elms Village, Falmouth, on September 1, 2012. She was born in Wentworth Creek June 26, 1917, the eldest child of the late George and Mabel (Lantz) Leighton. She is survived by her daughter Virginia (David) Stoddard, Yarmouth; her son Ivan Lantz (Francine Péloquin), Boucherville, PQ, granddaughter Shannon (Michael) Fisher, St. John's, NL; great grandchildren Jacob and Emily Fisher. She is also survived by her brother Tom (Vivian) Leighton, Nine Mile River, and by cousins, nieces and nephews. Alice was predeceased by her first husband Alston F. Lantz, her second husband Harry Galley, and her brother Lindy Leighton. A teacher by profession, Alice taught in country schools along the Hants Shore and later in North Woodside, Yarmouth, and West Green Harbour, Shelburne county. She was in her mid-sixties, widowed, and retired when she moved back to Bramber, married long-time family friend Harry Galley, and re-invented herself as a community activist. She became a strong voice for social and environmental protection and stewardship, speaking out for the preservation of the Minas Basin coastal environment and the small family woodlots and forest areas. She believed that people working together could accomplish great things, and with her leadership, they did. Her main claim to fame and her most significant and long-lasting contribution was the 1985 establishment of the Hants Shore Community Health Centre. The clinic has been cited as a model for rural health care in Canada. Alice's work was recognized by the Canadian Confederation of Community Clinics when she was the key-note speaker at their 1998 Winnipeg conference. In Nova Scotia, she received the Paul Harris Fellow Award for her "service above self" from the Rotary Club International. In 2000, Resolutions passed unanimously in the Legislative Assembly congratulated her for "continuing to use her talents for the improvement and benefit of her local community". The love and friendship of Sheila Gregory, Dawn Barkhouse, and Lorraine and Don Chambers were extremely important to Alice. The dedicated care and love of the staff and residents at 3 Meadowview Landing, Windsor Elms Village contributed greatly to her quality of life over the past two years. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 15th, 2012 in the Summerville United Baptist Church, 20 Musgrave Road, Summerville, Alex Mosher Officating, with a reception to follow at the Bramber New Horizons Centre, Bramber. Donations in her memory may be made to Hants Shore Health Association, the Bramber Cemetery fund, or the Bramber New Horizons Centre. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the compassionate care of the J. Wilson Allen Funeral Home, Hwy 215 Summerville, ph-1-902-633-2431 or visit our web site at www.allenfh.ca to sign the guest book or send condolences