How a secure and caring environment and
life-long friendships help four ‘Richibucto
Girls’ stay happy and healthy
MARGARET PATRICIA EATON
This is the story of four best
friends: Bella Spence, Doris
Fitzpatrick, Irene LeBlanc,
and Simone Gallant. They
went to school together, sang
in the choir, had loads of fun,
and to the tune of Ta-ra-raboom-de-yay,
sang: “We are
the Richibucto girls, we wear
our hair in curls, we wear our
dungarees rolled up to our
knees…”
As adults, they went in
different directions. Bella
married, had one son, and
worked as the Activity
Director at the Rexton
Nursing Home. Doris worked
for Bell Telephone in Ontario
for 32 years. Irene was a
private duty nurse in the
US for seven years before
returning to Kent County as a
Public Health Nurse. Simone
enjoyed a 33-year career as a
French Second Language and
French Immersion teacher.
It took her from a two-room
school near Campbellton
to Vancouver Island, to
The Netherlands with the
Department of National
Defence and back to
Kent County.
After three decades the four
were reunited in Richibucto.
“It was like we’d never been
6 PrimeTime SUMMER/ÉTÉ 2020
apart,” Bella says, recalling
how they got together every
Friday night to play cards
and raise money for
worthy causes.
As years went by they
recognized that living in
their own homes presented
challenges. It was Bella’s
son who helped her find the
perfect solution — her own
apartment in Royal Court, the
independent living quarters
at Parkland Estates. When
the others visited her, they
were impressed, and one by
one, first Doris, next Irene
and then three years ago
Simone, moved in. At last
the four were reunited, ready
Four life-long friends from Richibucto
love living independently at Parkland Estates.
From left to right: Doris Fitzpatrick, Irene LeBlanc,
Simone Gallant, Bella Spence.
to resume Friday night
card games.
“We are treated like royalty
here,” Bella says, “and the
staff is so good. They always
find time to listen to us.
I love it here and my son
doesn’t have to worry about
me, because the staff go out
of their way to be good to us.”
This has been especially
important during the
Covid-19 pandemic. We
spoke with each of the