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Alice Elizabeth Bent Obituary

Brought to you by Dana L. Sweeny Funeral Home

Alice Elizabeth Bent

Lunenburg, NS

September 28, 1953 - October 23, 2020

Alice Elizabeth Bent Obituary

Alice was born in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. She graduated from Annapolis Royal Regional Academy, then from the Nova Scotia Teachers’ College, and a few years later from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax.


After Teachers’ College and a short spell teaching elementary school, Alice taught on Baffin Island for 2 years. During her time there, she became interested in teaching Special Education, so returned to university to obtain her qualifications. Afterwards she taught high school students with special needs on the South Shore, both at Bridgewater High and Park View Educational Centre. She loved teaching her students the basic life skills which would hold them in good stead after their school years.

In her school and college years, she was an avid athlete and in later years a very successful coach of volleyball and many Special Olympic sports, from the local to the international level. She was one of the dedicated volunteers who built up the Special Olympic program, both locally and nationally. In recent years, she enjoyed pickle ball for the activity itself and for the friendships she made.


As well as her sports volunteer work, she dedicated her time to the Youth Alternative Society and Second Story Women’s Centre. She taught a Teacher Assistant course for many years, as well as Non-Violent Crisis Intervention. She received many awards and accolades for her volunteer work with various groups. A born organizer, Alice spearheaded many meets, tournaments, and a Young Women’s Wellness Conference through Park View.


In her later years, Alice became active in educating people on Pride issues, organizing a Gay Straight Alliance at the high school, speaking to students about the history of the struggles for equality, arranging an LGBTQ+ Games Night, and helping with the local Pride dances. She also trained staff in Diversity and Inclusion. With her partner, Wendy Annand, she created an annual lesbian weekend which saw women from far and wide come together for a week-end of friendship, food, laughter, and activities. The rest of the year, they were considered the potluck queens. The two of them also gave school presentations and spoke at the local Pride Flag raising. Alice was fortunate to have family who were very supportive of her and embraced her relationships.


Alice, having grown up on a hobby farm, became an avid gardener (although Wendy insisted that what she did was farming). She enjoyed hard physical labour and her gardens were always bountiful. She always planted different crops just to see how they would grow, much like her grandfather.


She shared her food, her time, and made many connections to benefit others. People always left their home with more than they had arrived. She was the glue of the community, bringing people into the groups that she felt they needed. She loved to dance, to wear colourful clothes (like her mother, Mary) and mismatched socks. She knew how to have fun - she loved sparkles, Christmas lights and solar lights. The property in the early years looked like a city at night, with all the lights. Often a prankster, Alice was known in the Annapolis area for having painted the float of the newly elected Bishop, Arthur Peters, a lovely purple colour in honour of this achievement. The Peters, family friends, were out of the country at the time.


She and Wendy considered themselves old codgers, fixing things as best they could, using lots of recycled pieces. Alice loved the outdoors, especially camping and camp fires. She was the family historian, keeping track of and finding relatives far and wide. Alice could turn her hand to any task - knitting, cooking, baking, drink making, sewing, and photography. As Alice said in the notes for her obit: “Dianne and Wendy, you’re gonna miss my food, just the way you like it.” Alice loved dogs and cats and greatly missed Mimzi, Sunny, Thomas, and Abigail, who passed on before her. But the property was rarely without visiting canines.


Alice fought a long battle with Ovarian Cancer. She shared her struggles with others on Facebook and continued to be generous with her time whenever she felt well enough. She was very appreciative of the care she received through her cancer journey and of the friendships she made, particularly Susan and Duke.


Alice was predeceased by her parents, Mary and Harold Bent. She is survived by her life partner, Wendy Annand, whom she married shortly before her death after 24 years together. She is also survived by her brother, Brian (Donna), sister, Eileen Fry, niece, Shilo Fry (Matt Smith), nephews, Adrian Bent (Erin), Tony Bent, and Nathanial Fry (Cheyanne Vetter), and Jennifer Banks. She is survived as well by Mr. Mister the cat. One of Alice’s few regrets was not being able to watch her great nieces and great nephew grow up.


Alice truly left her mark on all of us. In the notes she left of her obituary, she stated: “It has been a pleasure to have shared my life with many of you. You have all influenced me to become a better person.” And she did that for all of us.


Rest in Peace.


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Events

Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Alice Elizabeth Bent.