Goodbye Jolene

Jolene McMurdo left Fort Albany for good on Sunday, and with it the community lost a shining light.

Jolene was one of the RNs at James Bay General Hospital. She received a job offer in Wawa she couldn't refuse, and decided to make the leap. Jolene arrived in Fort Albany on June 17, 2005. I remember that day because it was three days after I got there. It's funny how every outsider who moves to Albany remembers the date they landed, and henceforth refer to it as their anniversary, like an alcoholic remembers the anniversary of their sobriety.

Jolene endeared herself to Christine and I instantly. As it turned out, Jolene and I attended Maple Grove Public School in Barrie at the same time; Jolene went to Kindergarten in the morning while I went in the afternoon. I was always more amazed at this coincidence than Jolene was. From Christine's perspective, she loved working with Jolene because she always found a way to make her laugh amidst the madness.

Jolene is everything you wish for in another human being: selfless, empathetic, humouress, devoid of ego. We will miss her tremendously.