Theresia Maria (Fiand) Quigley left this world after a full and fascinating life, on August 4, 2021, following a lengthy vigil by her loving family. Theresia was born in Surabaya on the Island of Java, Indonesia to German parents, Wilhelm and Elizabeth (Hoegner) Fiand. She was the beloved wife of Louis Gerard Quigley for 60 years, with whom she raised her children in Riverview, NB.
Early during the Second World War, Theresia’s father, being a German national, was taken to an internment camp in India. Along with her mother and two sisters, Theresia went to Japan, where they lived as refugees until the end of the war. This experience was chronicled in a novel written by Theresia, entitled "I Cry for Innocence." The family was reunited in Germany, where they lived happily for several years until Willi emigrated to Canada to work as a chef for the Canadian National Railway. Not long after the family joined Willi in Canada, they lost him to cancer. The girls spent their teen years growing up in Montreal, where Theresia met Louis Quigley of Saint John, NB, and married him in 1959. They started a family in 1960 and moved to Moncton. By 1966, they had four children!
Lou worked for the federal government in Moncton while Theresia raised the kids and kept their world going. In her late 30s, her keen intellect drove her to start university. By her mid 40s, Theresia had gained Bachelor and Masters degrees in English Literature from Université de Moncton, and her PhD in Comparative Literature from Université de Sherbrooke, Québec. During this time, she continued to support her children and husband in all their endeavours, doubling down and multi-tasking like mothers do. In fact, her kids hardly knew she was in school.
Theresia began working as an English Professor at U de M and rose to head of the department, a position she held for several years. Along with her novel, Theresia published several books of poetry, as well as her thesis (which became a textbook that can be found in libraries across Canada), and collaborated on several published literary anthologies with colleagues. As a professor, she was well loved. She impacted the minds of her students every day and served as a mentor to many at the university. She also lent her expertise to numerous boards and committees, including the Frye Festival as one of its founding board members, as well as the board of the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to her intellectual pursuits, Theresia had many other interests, including baking, sewing, reading, playing cards, knitting, looking for deals, and giving advice. She was known for her beautiful garden and connection with nature.
Upon her retirement in 2004, Theresia and Lou travelled the world and spent many happy hours in the company of their family. Theresia’s greatest joys in life were her children and grandchildren, who loved her immeasurably. She doted on each and every one of them with unconditional love, and her strength and resiliency were beacons to them all.
Theresia was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2015 and fought it valiantly.
Theresia is survived and will always be loved by four children: Barbara Ann Quigley (Rod Allen) of Moncton, Kevin Quigley (Linda Kirby) of Halifax, Mary O’Neill (Michael) of Rothesay, and Emily Quigley (Jeff Kaizer) of Halifax; nine grandchildren: Hannah and Tess Allen, Madison, Kennedy and Sydney Quigley, Ben, Gillian and Marley O’Neill, and Bridget Kaizer; also left to mourn is her identical twin, Sister Barbara Fiand of Cincinnati, Ohio; as well as several nieces and nephews in other parts of Canada; two loved in-laws, Mary O’Keefe (big sis) of Florenceville, and Clark Methot of Peterborough.
In addition to her parents, Theresia was predeceased in 2019 by the love of her life, Louis Quigley, and by her eldest sister, Johanna Methot, in 2016.
Theresia’s family would like to thank the wonderful people at The Briarlea off Gorge Road for their excellent, loving, and professional care since 2018, and particularly in the last days of her life. They would also like to thank family friend Yvette Connell for her dedication to Mum over the past few years.
A graveside service will be held for family members, and a family memorial to celebrate her life will be held on August 10, 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada (Alzheimer Society). A scholarship for mature students returning to post-secondary studies is being established in Theresia’s name. Funeral arrangements are in the professional care of Frenette Funeral and Cremation Centre, Moncton (858-1900).
Condolences may be left at www.frenettefuneralhome.com