Jean Paterson FERNIE
Honorary Member VGHSON Alumnae
1917-2011
Many of you would have known Jean Fernie as a supervisor in IDH . She worked at VGH from 1951-1978.
Jean passed away peacefully on March 22, 2011 at Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock BC. She was an amazing nurse and woman who dedicated her life to caring for others. She had the unique ability to make every person she met feel special.
In 1935 Jean began her nurses training in infectious diseases at Knightswood Infectious Diseases Hospital in Glasgow and in 1938 started her 3-year General Nursing Training at Glasgow Western Infirmary. From 1941 -1946 she was a Sister – head nurse – in charge of the Infectious Diseases Ward at the Western Infirmary in Manchester. In 1946 Jean enrolled in a Midwifery course and became the Sister in charge of neo-natal nursing.
She won many nursing awards and scholarships including “Nursing Beyond the Call of Duty” for her dedicated work in treating patients of the Glasgow Smallpox epidemic of 1950.
In 1951 she immigrated to Canada and began her 27 year career at VGH. In the 1950s she nursed patients through the Polio epidemics. Then in the late 1960s she was recruited for 3 months to work for the World Health Organization in Burma, India and Hong Kong. She returned to V.G.H. and later on became the Infectious Disease Control Officer.
In retirement Jean spent 25 years as a volunteer with the White Rock Hospice Society. She adored babies, children and dogs and will be lovingly remembered by all who knew her.
For more information on Jean’s life visit www.victoryfuneralcentre.ca
A celebration of Jean’s life is being held May 1, 2011 2:00-4:00 pm at the Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre, 12831 28th Ave, Surrey