Libby's Story -- so far!

Libby was born Elisabeth Jane MacClement on April 22^nd. 1945 at the “old” Infirmary in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is the youngest child of Alison Mary Richardson (b. 1913 in New Zealand – still lives there) and Dr. Wm. Donald MacClement (1905 – 1998).

 The War played havoc with family’s lives, including Libby’s. When hers split up, she moved with her mother, brother David and sister Kathy, to her grandparents’ home in New Zealand. She had an idyllic childhood in that beautiful country. Returning to live with her father and step-mother, Margaret Tait Ross, at the end of 1959 in Hamilton Ontario (where Don was a botany professor at McMaster University), she had the opportunity to continue her violin studies. She chose a career in Music Education and graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1967 with the degree of B.A. with Honours in Music Education.

Peter Drummond Fraser (who was one of the extended family of Taits, and thus a step-second-cousin) followed her out to the University of British Columbia, where Libby had started working on a Master of Music degree, and they were married in Quebec City, June 28^th., 1968.

Peter felt the call to go into the ministry and Peter and Libby returned to Nova Scotia for him to receive his theological training. Libby taught music in the schools from 1969 – 1975, and when Peter was ordained by the United Church in May of 1975, their life took them to Saskatchewan.

Samuel Chesley David Fraser, born December 21^st., 1979, in England (Peter had a scholarship to study there) made a family of three. They served in a second pastoral charge in Saskatchewan, then Peter was given the opportunity to be on the faculty of The Atlantic School of Theology, so they moved to Halifax and lived in a lovely manse on Willow Street for 3 years. Then it was time to return to Peter’s roots in Pictou County, and they settled into the picturesque community of Merigomish, from 1986 to 1993 during which Libby continued to teach music in the school system.

Peter had been born with Ehlers-Danlos disease, which gave rise to many challenges over his life and contributed to the weakening of his heart. He died on February 11^th., 2003. He was a superb preacher, an empathetic listener, and a gifted story teller: Libby was able to have his Christmas stories published in 2005, a source of pride and satisfaction for her, for Peter’s mother Mary, and for son Sam.

Libby thought she was adjusting quite well to the lonely life of a widow, with lots of interests to keep her busy: teaching 20 or so violin and cello students, teaching  courses in Early Childhood Education part-time for the Institute of Human Services in Truro, leading the Pictou County String Quartet, conducting the Pictou County Community Orchestra, and playing 4 times a year in the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra. Plus she has been involved with Trinity United Church and the N.D.P.

She enjoys  wonderful social and emotional support from the Fraser clan so shouldn’t have been surprised when sister-in-law Meredith introduced her to a parishioner, Brian Cassidy. What was a surprise was how deeply Brian and Libby connected, and how quickly that connecting became an assured love that leads them to this commitment of marriage.