Obituary of Elizabeth Paton Brinkschulte
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Elizabeth “Elsie” Paton Brinkschulte (Brown) on September 29, 2023. Born in 1935, she was the daughter of James and Elgin (nee Weir) Brown.
A fiercely independent lass, at the age of twenty, she immigrated from Castlecary, Scotland, braving the stormy North Atlantic crossing all by herself. She landed in Montreal, Canada, where she took a position as a live-in nanny, after which she began working at General Electric.
Around this time, a young man named Heinz William (Bill) Brinkschulte began pursuing her. She declined him several times, and while she eventually went out on a date with him and married him in 1956, she always maintained that she never really liked him.
After moving various times for his work in the Royal Canadian Air Force, they eventually settled in Lake Echo, NS. Elsie was a lifetime member of the Order of the Eastern Star, enjoyed playing bingo, and loved cheating at cards.
She visited Scotland every year and never lost her thick Scottish accent nor her deep affection for the family there. She also loved her cigarettes right up until the day before she died.
She was a very hard-working woman starting at thirteen years old, (at a cigarette factory), then continued this strong work ethic until she then took a break to care for her ill husband, and then returned back to the work force at the age of 68 after he passed.
Her children will always remember her for saying "no", even before they asked her a question, so thus she became affectionately known as "Nanny No-No".
Elsie lived independently in the Dartmouth area up until 2021 when, unfortunately, her health began to decline. She then moved to Great Village and was welcomed into the home of her daughter, Susan, where she was provided with the loving care she so deserved, and a fun family atmosphere to peacefully enjoy her remaining days.
Elsie is survived by her daughter, Susan Andrews; Susan's children, Cody (Jocelyn) Andrews (Daniel, Carter, Kevin); Logan (Taylor) Andrews (Ellie, Quinn); and Taylor (Dan) Andrews; her daughter, Lillian Brinkschulte; Lillian's children, Eric (Elsie's first grandchild who always held a special place in her heart); Alycia Richards (Elgin, Aiden); her sister, Jean (Mick) Holmes; and many dear nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by two longtime friends Mary Smith and Sharon Adams, who always kept in touch right up until the end.
Elsie was predeceased by: her parents, James and Elgin; her husband, Bill; her sister, Margaret; her brothers, Jim, Billy, and Colin; and her son, James William.
Elsie loved dogs and had a special bond with her beloved lab, Goldie, and fur grand babies Hamish and Scrappy, who never left her side.
At this time, we would like to thank most of the staff at the Colchester Hospital Emergency Department especially Dr. David Henderson who showed mom the utmost compassion, listening to her stories about Scotland, hopefully he will think about her when he visits the “Kelpies” in Falkirk, the GVFD first responders, the paramedics, and all the Palliative care team especially Angela for her care, compassion, and kindness!
As per Elsie’s wishes cremation has place with no formal funeral planned. Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr., Coldbrook, NS, B4R 1B9 (902-679-2822).
