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MARY CATHERINE 'KAY' MACDONALD

MARY CATHERINE 'KAY' MACDONALD

Mary Catherine ‘Kay’ MacDonald, 93 - New Waterford


It is with sadness that we announce the death of Kay (Mary Catherine) MacFarlane Basler MacDonald at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Sydney N.S. on August 14, 2014. Kay was the daughter of Hugh MacFarlane and Mary Ellen (Molly) Moran.
She was born on February 10, 1921 in Margaree, Nova Scotia; her Gaelic upbringing there was to influence her for the rest of her life.
She moved to Boston as a teen, and later served as a WAAC in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war, she married Albert Basler with whom she had 7 children; they grew up surrounded by Cape Breton music, with mom playing the piano and her brother, Alec D MacFarlane, playing the fiddle. In Boston, Kay was actively involved in the Gaelic Club, and performed Gaelic songs with them at folk music festivals in Newport, RI and Washington DC. After Albert’s death, she worked as a secretary at Blood Research Institute in Boston.
Kay later married Mick MacDonald of New Waterford, N.S., returning to Cape Breton. She worked at the Beaton Institute at Cape Breton University, recording native Gaelic speakers from Canada, the US and Scotland, and translating Gaelic publications. She hosted the CBC Cape Breton radio program “Island Echoes”, served as president of both the New Waterford Gaelic Society and the Gaelic Society of Cape Breton. She was a longtime member of the Cape Breton Gaelic Choir. After her retirement, Kay continued her involvement with Gaelic, teaching evening Gaelic classes for over 25 years and singing with and coaching the Gaelic choir. She served as a consultant on Gaelic to several Cape Breton musicians and frequently fielded calls from Canada and the US for help with a needed Gaelic phrase or translation. In 2009, Kay was awarded an honorary doctorate by Cape Breton University for her contributions to promoting, preserving and teaching the Gaelic language.
Kay was a long time member of St. Leonard Parish New Waterford. Her strong faith provided the bedrock upon which she lived her life. She was a dedicated member of the Mount Carmel Parish CWL, and also sang in the choir .
She knit countless sweaters and mittens, made beautiful quilts, and was always ready with a poem or song for any occasion. She delighted in spending time with her family and was thrilled with the arrival of great-grandchildren.
Kay is survived by her children Nancy Anne (David) Neville, Bert (Chris) Basler, Donald Basler, Meg Baxter, Barbara (Barry O’Brien) Basler, Frank (Carolyn) Basler; her stepchildren Jeannette (AJ) Beaton, Annie Mae (Duncan) Gillis, Daniel (Beverly) MacDonald, Joe (Sandra) MacDonald, and Carol Anne (Gerard) Graham; 22 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her first husband, Albert M. Basler, her second husband, Michael MacDonald, her brother Alec D. MacFarlane and her daughter Judith Basler Fortes.
Her family would like to thank the many friends who extended acts of kindness to her over the years, and especially to the health care workers who provided such wonderful care to her at home, in the hospital and at St Ann's Bay, Harbourstone Enhanced Care.
Family, faith, and her love of Scottish culture were her greatest joys in life ,and with that in mind, donations may be made to the Cape Breton Gaelic Choir (Oranaiche Cheap Breatuinn ) C/O Betty Mombourquette, 468 Murphy Road, Westmount, NS, B1R 1X1 or Parish of St Leonard, 5310 Union Highway, River Ryan, NS, B1H 1B2.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 20 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith Street, New Waterford. A funeral mass of celebration will take place Thursday, August 21 at 10 a.m. in the Parish Church of St. Leonard, Mount Carmel Avenue, with Father Ray Huntley officiating. Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at St. Leonard’s Parish Hall, Convent Street, New Waterford.
Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca.


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