SAINT JOHN, N.B. -- New Brunswickers gathered in a church in Saint John to celebrate the life of Elsie Wayne, who championed the community she dubbed "the greatest little city in the east" as its former mayor and a force to be reckoned with in Ottawa.
Wayne's family says the former New Brunswick member of Parliament died Tuesday in her home at the age of 84.
The right-wing firecracker was remembered at Saturday's service by Jean Charest, her lone Progressive Conservative companion in the House of Commons after the party lost all but two of their 156 seats in the 1993 federal election.
Charest compared the duo's task of rebuilding the country's Conservative movement as "like being in charge of a trainwreck."
"I would learn, as her people in Saint John knew so well, that the heavens had sent me as a partner and as a companion, the all-time Canadian champion of lost causes," Charest told the crowd.
The former Quebec premier said there was "nothing ordinary about Elsie," citing her reputation as a flamboyant political personality and relentless advocate of causes she cared about -- like funding for the Canadian Forces and benefits for merchant mariners.
In one episode of Wayne's battle to increase compensation for the group of Second World War navy veterans, Charest recalled her bolting from her seat in the House of Commons and making a beeline for Jean Chretien, poking the then-prime minister in the shoulder and demanding he help the "boys."
"She was an Opposition member all her life," Charest said. "She had a tireless work ethic, and her intensity and tenacity were such that she never gave up a fight until the answer was 'yes."'
Wayne achieved the sort of one-of-a-kind-status held by few Canadian politicians, said Charest, so iconic she was known simply by her first name.
"I think it's safe to say there will never, ever be another person like Elsie Wayne," he said.
The service at RiverCross Church was streamed online and mourners were invited to share their sympathies on the Brenan's Funeral Home website.
"Elsie was wonderful and one of the strongest ladies I ever met," Heather Peterson wrote on the condolences page. "Always so helpful and would stop and listen, she put the 'greatest little city in the east' on the map."
Born in Shediac, N.B., Elsie (Fairweather) Wayne became the first female mayor of Saint John in 1983 and represented the city's riding in Parliament for more than a decade before announcing her retirement in 2004.
Wayne was married to Richard Wayne and they had two sons, Daniel and Stephen.
