Obituary of Gwendolyn Florence Service

Servie, Gwendolyn Florence - The death occurred of Gwendolyn Florence Service nee Barber M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.,on Dec.19, 2013, at the Northwood Care Centre , Halifax, NS. Born Jan. 12, 1915 to the late Herbert George Barber and Florence Emily Emma Francis in Harlesden, London, England. After completing school, she entered medical school at the Royal Free Hospital, London, UK, for Women. (She was the last surviving member of her class). During this time she was an avid oarsman in a "Four" and also tennis player. She graduated with honours in Tropical Medicine. Dr. Barber became employed with the East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, Surrey, England and worked in casualty with many Canadian war time soldiers. It was at this time she met her future husband, Sgt. Raymond (Pat) Service, (1915-1972), who was with the First Division, Royal Canadian Regiment. In 1944, their only child was born whilst Sgt. Service was in Italy. In mid-June 1946, Gwendolyn and Nigel arrived aboard the Queen Mary in Halifax. She became a member of the Pategean Club of Halifax which was a club for war brides. In 1955 she returned to the medical work force in Halifax where she worked in conjunction with Dr. C.J.W. Beckwith doing tuberculin testing (the bubble test) and subsequent inoculation of BCG to thousands of Halifax city school children. At the completion of the grant for this programme, which ran over 10 years, she worked in Dalhousie Student Health as well as assisting in the Medical Technology programme at the then Nova Scotia Institute of Technology on Leeds St. Halifax. She finished her paid career at Margill Secretarial School in 1994 as instructor in the medical secretarial course. Not to be kept out of the medical field Dr. Service completed her working life as front desk volunteer at IWK Hospital for Sick Children. She is survived by son, Nigel Patrick and wife Barbara Catherine nee Trivett, two grandsons, Nigel Peter Dafydd (Cara); and Nevil Paul (Karen), two great grandchildren Anwen and Callum. Besides her parents, she was also predeceased by a sister Frances Evelyn in 1923. Cremation has taken place and interment in her parent’s family plot in the New Willesden Cemetery, London, England will take place at a later date. Funeral arrangements under care of J. Albert Walker Funeral Home (2005) Limited.  A memorial service will take place at the Presbyterian Church of St. David, 1537 Brunswick St., Halifax at 2pm on January 11th, 2014. Donations may be made to her favourite charity, the Salvation Army for whom she had so much respect during World War II.Condolences may be made to www.walkerfh.com.