A Saint John community leader is being remembered as an unwavering advocate with a passion for helping others.
Laurie Flood passed away over the weekend at the age of 63, according to her obituary.
Flood spent the past 21 years as executive director of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation.
A social media post from the foundation said Flood was an “unwavering advocate for compassionate healthcare” who helped improve the lives of many people.
“Laurie’s legacy of profound dedication, kindness, and service will forever be remembered, and will continue to be an inspiration and an integral part of the Foundation’s mission,” said the post.
Dozens of people have commented on the post, which was shared on Monday, offering their condolences and sharing their memories.
‘Somebody like Laurie, they’re rare’
Carolyn Wong, board chair of the hospital foundation, first met Flood six years ago when she was being interviewed to sit on the board.
“During that meeting, it was just so evident to me how important the work of the foundation was to Laurie,” Wong told our newsroom.
“Somebody like Laurie, they’re rare. They come along only a few times in your life where you run into somebody like that. And you know, Laurie certainly was was that type of person.”
Flood helped to raise more than $19 million for the foundation during her more than two decades as executive director.
That helped the foundation purchase many pieces of equipment for the hospital and to do many capital upgrades, said Wong.
“Laurie never shied away from a challenge and often would set lofty fundraising goals. But to her credit, the goals were always reached,” she said.
Flood also served as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, where she volunteered on a three -month mission to help children in St. Vincent.
Beyond her commitment to the community, she also fostered family creativity through her love of arts and crafts, according to her obituary.
“Whether it was knitting, felting, quilting or darning ‘Lotta Love’ socks on her special antique sock machine, Laurie never looked at a craft nor project without the feisty utterance ‘we could do that.'”
Foundation launches memorial fund
Flood leaves behind her daughter, 10 siblings, 26 nieces and nephews, 15 1/2 grand-nieces and grand-nephews and “more cousins than we are able to accurately count.”
Visitation will be held at Brenan’s Funeral Home in Saint John from 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Rothesay at 11 a.m. Friday.
The St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation has created a special fund in Flood’s memory that will focus on patient care, patient advocacy and caregiver support. Her family is asking for people to donate to the fund in lieu of flowers.
For anyone that cannot make a financial contribution but still want to honour Flood, Wong suggested they perform an act of kindness for someone who is struggling.
“I know that that is something that would definitely bring a smile from Laurie,” she said.
