Mary ‘Alice’ McQuinn, of Penobsquis, New Brunswick

Alice was born in Harcourt, NB on July 11th,1920. She was the daughter of the late Robert and Una (Baxter) Atkinson. Alice is survived by her beloved husband Dr. Leslie McQuinn of 51 years, 5 children: Doug and his wife Glenys of Quispamsis, Ruth McQuinn of Saint John, Lorna Balemans and her husband Bill of Saint John, David and his wife Colleen of Picadilly, Don and his wife Lois of Outlook, Saskatchewan, her brother, Bruce Atkinson and his wife Carolyn of Fredericton, her sister-in-laws, Phyllis Atkinson and Marjorie Atkinson both of Fredericton, her brother-in-law, Burton McQuinn and his wife Jayne of Penobsquis, her sister-in-law, Pearl DeLong and her husband Gordon of Sussex Corner, 13 grand-children: Tracy, Aaron, Justin, Lisa, Amy, Carrie, Vivian, Billy, Christopher, Ocean-Leigh, Adena, Mitchell and Victoria., 3 great-grandchildren, Erin, Kevin and Stephanie, several nieces and nephews. Alice was predeceased by her brothers, Harold, Hubert and Edward (Ted) Atkinson. Prior to her marriage in 1951, she worked for Young’s Hardware, Unemployment Insurance Commission and contributed to both Youth Group and Sunday School at Wilmot United Church in Fredericton. As a young bride she was one of the founders of the CGIT Group at Rexton United Church. As her husband’s career took them on to Moncton and then Sussex, her strong belief and participation in church continued at Wesley United (Couples Club) and St. Paul’s United (Unit Leader and Life Member of UCW). A devoted wife and mother, Alice enjoyed cooking, recipe collecting, current events and supporting her husband in his professional work and her children with education and life in general. Alice will be long remembered for her clever humor, gentle kindness, ready smiles, welcoming arms, incredible strength and quiet understanding. She will be greatly missed.

I knew her as Mom McQuinn and she is the inspiration for this site- over the years she collected many recipes and cook books- many which are featured here.

With her love for homemaking she could create any recipe from scratch, pickles, cakes, jams, meals, nothing was too hard or difficult. Living through the depression era also gave Mom McQuinn a keen sense of frugal living, saving and making your own rather than purchasing ready made product’s. Dad McQuinn said it was she who made him a rich man, in every sense of the word.

Please feel free to leave a story about cooking with Alice.