- Mason Hounsell, Alanna With the heaviest of hearts we announce the passing of Alanna Laurel Dawn Mason-Hounsell, on July 29, 2024, following a brief but hard-fought battle with cancer. Alanna was raised in Bishopville, and was predeceased by her parents, Donna Mason (Vaughan) and Garnet Mason; and grandmother, Verna Vaughan (Tracey). She attended school in Avonport, and at Horton High School, and Mount Saint Vincent University. In her youth, Alanna was a champion swimmer holding many records including the Provincial 12 and under female 200m Breaststroke from 1981 until 2018. She worked as a camp counsellor and lifeguard at Kingswood Bible Camp and was very involved in the Hantsport Baptist Youth Group. Alanna attended Mount Saint Vincent University from 1987 to 1992 (BSc, Psychology & Gerontology), where she had an outstanding presence on the campus. She befriended all she encountered, and in many ways was the heart of the Mount community at that time. If there was a Mystics athletic event, you could count on Alanna to be there with her pots and pans, and then always leading the party at Vinnies afterwards. She was a Student Union Representative, an RA, and served as a member of the Athletics and Recreation Society and the MSVU Alumnae Board. In 1991, Alanna began her career at Gateway Homes Inc. as a Support Worker. She stayed with Gateway her entire career, even working through her first round of treatment, and progressed in her career there to Supervisor and then into Human Resources & Training. Gateway's goal of "Making Meaningful Differences in the Lives of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities" was also Alanna's personal goal. She made a meaningful difference in the lives of everyone she met, at work and outside of work, regardless of ability. Alanna was deeply involved for many years with the Special Olympics where she served as Head of Aquatics (Dartmouth) and twice as the Head Coach for Team Nova Scotia Aquatics at the National Games. She loved and cared for her swimmers like a second family. In 2009, Alanna was recognized as the Swim Nova Scotia Volunteer of the Year and in 2012 she received the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal for her outstanding contributions to the Province of Nova Scotia. Alanna was also an active member of Deepwater Church and Crossfit Kinetics. However, more important than all Alanna did and accomplished, is who she was. Alanna was a wife, a daughter, a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin, a coach, an advocate, a mentor, the most loyal friend, and the kindest soul. She was smart, funny, and gave the best hugs. She was an avid reader and lover of music and red wine. She always put the needs of others ahead of her own. She was the life of the party and the shoulder to cry on. She will be deeply missed and never forgotten by all who were fortunate enough to know her. As Alanna would have wanted, a Celebration of Life Party will be held on September 13, 2024 in the Multi-Purpose Room at Mount Saint Vincent University from 6-9 p.m. where all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Alanna's memory to NS Special Olympics or the SPCA.
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- 2024
d. 13 Jun 2015, Kentville, Kings, Nova Scotia