The family would like to announce the passing of Muriel Vilda (Henwood) Brine, 95 years of age, on January 01, 2022 at Gables Lodge in Amherst, NS.
Born in Springhill Junction, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Ethel (Graham) Henwood.
Muriel's working life began at the early age of 14 years old when she and her brother Harold used to go visit their grandparents in West Brook. Some of the chores she performed while "visiting" were washing lamp shades, refilling the lamps with oil, making bread, cooking meals, making butter and even emptying chamber pails. When their "visit" came to an end, they would be loaded up with homemade butter and fresh eggs which they would take back to Springhill and peddle them to the various stores. Transportation was the train that traveled from Parrsboro to Springhill Junction but the last leg of the trip was on foot. They would walk from the Junction to Springhill carrying the butter and eggs.
Over the years she also worked at Hunt's Stationery and Herrett's Grocery. Her brother Harold would wait up town so he could drive her home to Clairmount, where they lived at the time. In the winter, if it had snowed and the road wasn't passable, they would park the car at Guy Dickson's Dance Hall on the Valley Road and walk to the top of Clairmount. Muriel treasured all of these memories and told her stories often.
In 1951, she met Henry Brine. He would visit their home under the pretence of helping her sister Olive with her homework, playing cards with her mother, Ethel, and her aunt Ruby. Six months later they were married. Henry was the love of her life. They made their home in Springhill until Henry was killed in the Bump of 1958. We believe Muriel was the last remaining miner's widow from the Bump. Even when she reached her final days, with diminished mental capacity, Muriel's face would light up at the mention of Henry's name.
Being a widow, with no specialized training, did not stop her from going to Toronto to look for work. Quite a brave thing to do for a country girl with no life experience outside of a small town. She even drove to Toronto, all by herself, where she got a job with the federal government. Muriel started as a file clerk and worked her way up the line to a good paying job and managed to support herself in fine style. She moved into an apartment building that was still under construction and lived in the same building until she moved back to Nova Scotia in 2004. While in Toronto she made many friends including Pat Comer, Richard Martin and special friend and companion, Leo Vingerling. They traveled often and even enjoyed a trip to Holland to meet his family.
Muriel will be sadly missed by her sisters, Christena Summers (Oxford, NS) and Olive Holland (Maple Ridge, BC).
She was predeceased by her brothers, Victor, Ralph, Cyril and Harold.
While Muriel did not have any children of her own, she was a cherished Aunt who took a special interest in her nieces and nephews. When she would come home on vacation, or visit the family closer to her, the car was always loaded with presents for everyone of them.
Arrangements have been entrusted into the care of A.H. Brown Funeral Home, 5 McFarlane Street, Springhill, NS (902-597-2361).
A visitation celebrating the lives of Muriel Brine and her sister Christena Summers will take place from St. Andrew's Wesley United Church, Springhill, on Saturday, June 25, 2022, from 1:00 to 2:00pm followed immediately at 2:00pm by their Funeral Service with K. Ruth Gamble, DLM, officiating, followed by internment in the Hillside Cemetery.
We would like to thank the staff of Gables Lodge for the compassionate care provided to her.
Donations in her memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the online memorial at www.brownsfuneralhome.ca or through the A.H. Brown Funeral Home Facebook Page.
