This information has been gleaned from newspaper cuttings, family documents and letters and online sources.

Louise Fearon was born in Tandragee, County Armagh, Northern Ireland in 1890. She was the second eldest of 8 children born to John and Lavinia (nee Gracey). They lived in 3 Portadown Road. They also owned the properties on either side that contained a small farm with cattle and a Blacksmiths.

Her father worked as a law clerk in a local law firm. One night he came home by carriage suffering from pneumonia and died on the doorstep. This left Lavinia with her 8 children. Louise was nearly 18 at the time.

By all accounts Louise was a home bird, but was encouraged to move to Canada in 1911 when she was 20 by her Uncle James to join the teaching staff. James was the second principal of the Halifax School for the Deaf in situ from 1891-1918 and friend of Alexander G Bell and Helen Keller, often consulting with them in reference to his students.

Louise was appointed as full time teacher of weaving and handicrafts, working with deaf children from Halifax and Ontario. She was responsible for the establishment of a number of handicraft programs and was recognised in the field of weaving. Many years later in one of her letters she wrote home saying she wished she could have thanked “Uncle Jem” as she realised then it was for the best.

She communicated with her younger sisters, Mary and Norah. Norah was keen on handicrafts too and in numerous letters they exchange hand-written drawings of patterns, of what appears to be weave. In 1966, Louise bought a 20" inch table loom for Norah to encourage her to weave (which was donated to Ulster Folk Museum in 2021).

Below are extracts from newspaper articles from 1952 when she was honoured by the school in recognition of her service and outstanding work.

A lifetime of service to the handicapped -- a devotion and patience that are almost past describing -- love and kindness that even the most bewildered child can feel -- these were the qualities of Louise Fearon.

Hundreds of children have gone through her classes and been enriched immeasurably by their experience. Deprived at birth or by disease of the normal means of communication with their fellowmen, they have learned not only to speak their thoughts and learn the thoughts of others but to experience the richness and wonder of the world, with the senses left to them.

After working 40 years with the deaf, she concentrated completely on teaching those who were both deaf and blind until her retirement in 1961. A number of news articles mention a few of these students: Jean Watts, Roberta Wadman and Marjorie Golinsky.

In particular, Marjorie: Two years ago, Marjorie was living in Alberta and the authorities had come to the unfortunate decision to place her in an institution for mental health care for life! Because psychologists had declared that an intelligence without human contact could not develop. It was then that her parents, Mr and Mrs Albert Golinsky of Glenevis near Edmonton, heard of the exceptional work accomplished by Miss Louise Fearon. She has been teaching deaf and blind children with remarkable success for 10 years in a school in the Maritime provinces. She has 40 years of experience teaching those who suffer from deafness. When Marjorie arrived, two older girls, who have now graduated, were attending her classes. But now the little girl has her teacher to herself. Each day, the smiling and patient teacher sits at a narrow table opposite her student, in a small, sunny room filled with Marjorie's favourite toys that she has never seen. And slowly some form of language is emerging in the mind of the little girl with the black curls. She now knows the alphabet...

She became recognised as a pioneer in the field of education for her work with the deaf-blind students. It was because of her service that the deaf-blind unit at Atlantic Provinces Resource Centre for the Hearing Handicapped (APRCHH) was officially named Fearon unit in 1976. In 1979 received special recognition from the province of Nova Scotia for her contributions to education. Along with her sister, Margaret, who had also worked at the School.

Louise was attentive as ever, often bringing her students back to their parents across Canada after the school year was over. She kept in touch with some of them and kept the memories in photo albums (alas not too many have names on them).

Louise passed away on Monday, November 2 1981 aged 91 in Camp Hill Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, following a lengthy illness.

Note: I only met Aunt Louise twice, when I was 3, too young to remember (all I remember is the enchanting musical box that was in my bedroom) and 16 (when my sister and I went to visit the Aunts). I only wished I had known what my Aunt had achieved in her life to have asked questions, but alas!