Obituary of Judith Potvin

POTVIN (n?e Ackerman), Judith Sue ??? 70, Greenwood NS, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2007 at the Soldiers?? Memorial Hospital in Middleton NS after a short battle with cancer. Born in Whitney Pier NS, Sue was a daughter of the late Edward and Mildred (Ledrew) Ackerman. She spent her youth living on air bases across Canada, and settled in Ottawa when she met and married her first husband, Peter Knippel Sr., and happily raised four children there. In 1993, Sue married the love of her life, Donald Potvin, in Osgoode ON. After a career that included homemaking, entrepreneurship, and real estate, Sue devoted herself to journalism, culminating with the launch of an alternative newspaper, Discourse and Disclosure, that she published to give a voice to writers on political, social and environmental topics. Always a generous contributor to the communities in which she lived, Sue was active in many groups, most recently the Kingston United Church and the Kingston Health Auxiliary. In 1996 Sue was awarded the Order of Osgoode for her tireless work to help establish the Osgoode Township Long Term Care Facility and as a reporter and columnist for several community weekly newspapers. She and Don moved to Nova Scotia in 1999 to be near Sue??s parents and sister, and the last few years of her life were devoted to working with Don in their glorious garden. She is survived by her husband Donald Potvin; children Steffen Knippel (Cristina Usubiaga), Cdr. Michael Knippel (Manon), Kathryn Servage (Alain Faubert), and Peter Knippel (Meg Lunney); stepchildren Valerie Faubert (Phil), Pauline Grant (Bob), Martin Potvin, Madeleine Barker (Jeremy), and Anna Savage (John); grandchildren Donna Sue Faubert (Dan Marion), Andrew, Justin and Kyle Harten, and Zachary and Sophie Knippel; sister Carol Romkey (Dave); nephew Grant Romkey (Terri) and niece Beth Shepherd (Don); long-time friend Madeleine Florent; and numerous cousins and friends in Cape Breton and across Canada. Sincerest thanks to the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 98), the Victorian Order of Nurses, the staff at Soldiers?? Memorial Hospital, and especially Dr. McNally. Sue was strong, charitable and inspiring until the very end ??? we could not have become the people we are without her, and we will always cherish our memories of her. A celebration of Sue??s life will be led by Rev. Michael Mugford at 5:30 pm at the Kingston United Church on June 26, 2007, followed by a reception at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 98 in Kingston NS. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kingston Health Auxiliary or the charity of your choice. Online condolences to http://www.annapolisvalleyfuneralhome.com.