Teresa M. F. Corbin

Imagine the experiences of a life spanning from 1925 to 2021! Mom’s life presented so many memorable joys for our family and extended family, now we are gratefully left with the numerous stories and memories which we will always cherish.

The family of Teresa (Bippy) M.F. Corbin (nee Doucet) sadly announce her passing on Friday, September 10th, 2021at the age of 96. Teresa was married for 70 years to Ronald Corbin who died in 2019. They lived a full life raising their seven children who blessed them with 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Teresa is survived by her children Jane Allen (Douglas) Calgary, AB, Paul, Vancouver, BC, Marie Morris (Trevor) Saint John, Mary Ellen Corbin (Steve Galianos) Fredericton, Libby O’Hara (the late Paul O’Hara) Quispamsis, Ron (April Keating) Summerville, Rick (Barb Erickson) Vancouver. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Rebecca Brown, Noella Corbin, Alvine Boucher and Fernande Corbin and her brother-in-law Guy Corbin along with several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews from the Doucet and Corbin extended families.

Teresa was the last surviving member of her family. She was predeceased by her parents, Ethel (Comeau) and Benedict Doucet, her brothers, Ronald and Brian and her sisters, Helena Bent and Irene Kennedy, and baby sister Ethel Comeau. After raising her children, Teresa worked as a teaching assistant for the Nova Scotia School Board with hearing impaired children. The class was housed at Glenn Falls Elementary School in Saint John NB. She was dearly loved by her students, several of whom remained in contact with her as recently as three weeks ago.

Teresa was known for her amazing cooking and handwork talents. Her recipes have been handed down to her children and grandchildren, especially her delicious cinnamon rolls. It gave mom great joy to spend time teaching the children how to bake. Teresa felt that they all should know how to make baked goods to share with their families. Today her children pride themselves in baking her signature recipes, with the results receiving mom’s approval. Teresa’s family, extended family and friends share many fond memories of the years spent at the Corbin summer Cottage in Chapel Grove on the Kingston Peninsula. However, Teresa didn’t take a summer break away from her amazing cooking. She figured she could combine the joy of being out in nature and bake as well, so she came up with the idea of having Ron Sr. install her cottage antique wood burning stove (replaced by a kemac burner), outside in a private corner of their secluded property on the hill. Many neighbours tried to find a reason to take a shortcut through our property just to catch the aroma of her baking and hopefully, and most often, a tasty sample. When Teresa wasn’t baking or doing all the things a mother of 7 does to keep family life running smoothly, she was busy knitting. She always made sure that every family member had handmade mittens and hats. If the pattern wasn’t quite what she had in mind, she would figure out how to make it her own design by adding a little something extra just to make it unique. This was celebrated with a photo collage on her 90th birthday, which included every member of the family, at that time, wearing something that mom had knit. In her 96th year, mom could still be found knitting up a storm so that everyone had a gift of her knitting for the upcoming winter. It was this beautiful craft that she also taught to her family members, some of whom are very talented knitters thanks to their mom and grandmother.  

As an avid bowler, Mom was winner of the Turkey Pin for bowling 3 strikes in a row. This was a proud accomplishment and the envy to bowlers everywhere. Other pastimes included her joy of reading, playing cards and of course Bingo. Mom was one of the most graceful skaters to don long bladed reachers. With dad as her skating partner, they glided across the ice often making heads turn at their control of blade to ice, keeping each stride in rhythm with the piped or live music. They had many years of practice since skating is where mom met the love of her life, our dad. At the age of 75, they bravely took up roller blade skating in order to continue this activity during the warmer months.

The family wishes to express our deepest appreciation to Dr. Chris O’Brien who cared for both mom and dad for over thirty years and to the staff at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

Arrangements are entrusted to Fundy Funeral Home, 230 Westmorland Road (506-646-2424).  A private family service will take place at a later time. Remembrances may be made in Teresa’s memory to Bobby’s Hospice Saint John or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

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