Louise G Hessian
1923-2022

Louise Hessian – a devoted teacher and an Islander
for almost 99 years – died June 16, 2022, in
Charlottetown.
Gertrude Louise
Hessian was born September 15, 1923, the second daughter and third
child of Eda Prowse from Murray Harbour and Jimmy Hessian from
Georgetown. As was too true 100 years ago, tragedy came
often. Her sister Helen died at age 3 on Christmas Eve 1929 of an
infection, when Louise was 5. A younger sister, Phyllis, almost died;
these were the years before antibiotics were discovered.
Their father, an engineer for the CNR, was killed in 1932 at age 49
when another train plowed into his train, near Tignish. Eda was left
on her own to raise four children under age 13.
A great believer in the value of education,
Eda moved the family to Charlottetown to take advantage of better
schools. It was a wise decision. Louise and her three siblings all
went on to successful careers and happy lives. After
training at Prince of Wales College and earning a certificate in
special education at St. Dunstan’s University (now the
University of Prince Edward Island), Louise taught in the
Charlottetown schools for 44 years, including Queen Square and Saint
Jean. She guided thousands of Islanders toward adulthood. Except for
spending 1957 to 1959 teaching at a Canadian army base in France
– an experience she loved – she always lived in
downtown Charlottetown.
Louise was a
long-time parishioner at Holy Redeemer, a member of the Catholic
Women’s League, and an avid bridge player who was still
making bids into her 90s. At any age, she could dismantle a lobster
with expertise. Never married, she was a frequent presence
at Christmas and other family occasions in Montreal, Ottawa, and
Burlington, Ont. There she kept her siblings and their spouses up to
date on all the latest goings on in PEI.
Louise had admirable personal habits that enabled her to live an
active retirement for almost 30 years. Only in the last few years did
her health decline. The family wishes to express our great gratitude
to the caregivers at Geneva Villa and the Atlantic Baptist home and to
her family physician, Dr. Jason Thompson.
In keeping with her family’s lifelong devotion to
education, her estate will fund the G. Louise Hessian Scholarships at
the University of Prince Edward Island.
As she wished, the funeral will be held at Holy Redeemer on
Saturday, July 2, at 10:00, with burial to follow in the Georgetown
cemetery. All are welcome to attend. Arrangements are under the care
of Hennessey Cutliffe Charlottetown Funeral Home. In her
memory, donations may be made to the donor’s charity of
choice.
Family member: Kevin Quinn,
406-438-6559, [email protected]