Nova Scotia

Mrs. Zylpha MacFarlane (formerly Griffiths) of Truro, Nova Scotia, was the 1957 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 1957, accompanied by her daughter, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On April 9, 1917, her first husband, Private John Henry Griffiths, was killed at Vimy Ridge during the First World War.

On May 26, 1943, her son, Flight Sergeant David William MacFarlane, was killed while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

On July 8, 1944, a second son, Sergeant Robert James Griffiths, was killed while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders.

The widow of John Henry Griffiths, Mrs. MacFarlane remarried and was a mother of 17 children—five of whom were step children. In addition to sons, David, Joseph and Robert, two of her other children, son, Herbert MacFarlane and daughter, Mrs. Douglas Alice Boutillier also served during the Second World War.

Mrs. MacFarlane attended the First Baptist Church in Truro, Nova Scotia and was an active community member and volunteer. She was superintendent of Sunday School, Truro Heights for eight years, past mistress of Loyal True Blue Lodge, Truro and worked with the youth movement of the International order of Good Templars. Mrs. MacFarlane was also a member of the Women’s Missionary Society, Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion and Nova Scotia Temperance Federation.

She enjoyed crocheting and felt she had been blessed with many fine children, including 30 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Mrs. Mary Josephine Meech from North Sydney, Nova Scotia, was selected 1970 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 1970, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On April 13, 1942, her son, Flight Sergeant William Ian Meech, was killed while on duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

On February 19, 1944, another of her sons, Pilot Officer Lloyd Remington Joseph Meech, was killed also while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Mrs. Meech, née Macdonald, was born in 1897. She married Lloyd Remington Meech. Together, they had four children--William, Lloyd, John and Garth. She died in 1975.

Mrs. Janet Fraser of Debert, Nova Scotia, was the 1982 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 1982, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On August 24, 1943, her son, Flight Sergeant George William Fraser, was reported missing over Germany while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

On October 13, 1944, a second son, Private John Robert Fraser, was killed in action while serving with the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.

Mrs. Fraser, née Muirhead, married John Hill Fraser, a First World War Veteran. Together, they raised five children, George William, Robert, Mildred (Millie) Louise, who was a major in the Canadian Armed Forces, Kathleen (Kay) Elizabeth and another son, Dana.

Mrs. Secondina Di Persio from Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, was the 1987 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 1987, at the age of 90, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On July 16, 1942, her son, Flight Sergeant Querino Di Persio, was killed while on duty with the Royal Canadian Air force in Egypt.

Mrs. Di Persio, born in Pratola Peligna, Italy, arrived in Canada in 1916 and became one of the first businesswomen in Sydney Mines when she opened a grocery store offering not only food for sale, but also acted as banker, translator, and letter writer for those Italian immigrants in need of help. Her store lasted for 50 years.

Three of her sons, Pat, Hank and Merino all served in Second World War.

Mrs. Di Persio died February 8, 1989 at the age of 91.

Mrs. Hazel Auralee Driscoll of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was the 1988 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 1988, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On February 11, 1942, her son, Able Seaman Kenneth Driscoll, was killed while on duty with the Canadian Merchant Navy.

Hazel Auralee Driscoll, née McKenzie, was born in Halifax on April 14, 1901. She married Damos George Driscoll from East Uniacke, Nova Scotia. Together, they raised four children–Russell, Kenneth, Kathleen and John and lived for a while in Windsor, Nova Scotia. Her son John also served in the Canadian Army during the Second World War and was highly decorated.

Mrs. Driscoll died on July 30, 1996 in Halifax.