Cecilia 'Spickie' (Bisson) McIntyre
Born In: New Waterford
Born: April 20th, 1927
Passed on: May 30th, 2015
“I know a woman of strength and beauty. She is my mother”
We are saddened to announce the peaceful passing of our mother, Cecilia (Bisson) McIntyre 'Spickie', 88, at her home, on May 30, 2015. She died the way she lived, with grace and dignity.
Cecilia (Bisson) McIntyre was born on April 20, 1927, in New Waterford, N.S., the eleventh child in a family of 13 children born to Sarah MacInnis (Frenchvale) and John Bisson (Cheticamp). Spickie was the last surviving member of her family.
Spickie, the nickname she was given at an early age was the name that she was known by throughout her life. She attended Saint Agnes School and as a young woman was employed at Epstein’s Clothing Store.
On Nov. 25, 1947, Spickie married Duncan McIntyre of Inverness/New Waterford and together they raised a family of eight children.
After her children were grown, she enjoyed many retirement years travelling extensively throughout Canada and the United States. Spickie always said that she was blessed for her years of sacrifice in raising a large family and although she loved travelling, it was less important than that time spent with her children.
A firm believer in living a healthy lifestyle, she stayed active by walking daily on the Dominion Boardwalk. Spickie skated into her 70s at numerous local arenas, establishing many long-standing friendships along the way. As much as she liked skating, dancing was the activity she truly loved, be it at a social function or home in the kitchen with Duncan.
Her kindness and generosity was shown in her gifts of baking she shared with family and friends. Spickie was well known on the Boardwalk as 'the cookie lady.' An excellent homemaker, she devoted her life to her family and took pride in doing so.
Blessed with a sharp wit and a keen mind, Spickie always enjoyed a good laugh. For an extended period of time, Spickie attended “Aging Gracefully”, but as she was often reminded by her children, she was not successful at aging gracefully.
A devout Catholic, she was a lifelong member of Saint Agnes Parish and later Saint Leonard’s parish.
Spickie is survived by her children, Francie (Vince) MacDonald and their children, Jenna and James; John ‘Ticker’ and his children, Katie, Sarah (Nathan) Soldon and Nicole; Billy, Bernie, Brenda and Stephen (Michelle) and their children, Joshua and Zachary. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Teresa MacNeil (the late Jimmy) and her children, Maggie (Nick MacIssac), Duncan and Rory.
Spickie was predeceased by her husband, Duncan, in 1994, her sons, Jimmy in 1990 and Daniel Paul in 1963 and by her daughter-in-law, Carol Anne (Power) McIntyre in 2015. She was also predeceased by her siblings, Maggie, Molly, Katie, Johnnie, Peter, Wilfred, Florence, Teresa, Joe, Ernest, Gook and Bernie.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith St., New Waterford, N.S. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 from 2-4 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. A funeral mass to celebrate Spickie’s life will take place at the Parish of Saint Leonard, Mount Carmel Avenue, New Waterford, N.S., on Wednesday, June 3, 2015, at 1 p.m. with Fr. Ray Huntley officiating. Interment will take place at Forest Haven Memorial Gardens, 1510 Grand Lake Rd., Sydney, N.S.
A luncheon will follow at Saint Leonard’s Parish Hall, Convent St., New Waterford.
In lieu of food being sent to the family home, the family respectfully requests that you lend a helping hand by sending a special treat or a meal to seniors in your community.
If you so desire, donations in Spickie’s memory may be given at the funeral home to the Parish of Saint Leonard.
Online condolences to the family can be expressed at www.vjmcgillivray.ca.
