Vivian Pearl (Lewis) MacMillan of Windsor, Nova Scotia, (1912-2016) died peacefully in her favourite chair on August 27 in Windsor Elms Village, Falmouth, at the grand age of 103 years and 10 months. Vivian is lovingly remembered by her only child, son, William Ian MacMillan, Falmouth; much loved granddaughter, Jennifer Lynn MacMillan (Calvin Woo); and great grandchildren, William Bruce MacMillan Woo and Tabitha Skye MacMillan Woo, all of Montreal, PQ; step grandchildren, Robyn, Heidi, Peter and Scott Fleckenstein of Edmonton, AB; Jennifer’s mother, Elspeth Mackenzie, Kings Co.; and fellow grandmothers, Annette Mackenzie (William Borden Mackenzie, deceased) of Kentville, and Kay Kinnie of Falmouth; nephews, David Hoops of Toronto, ON; Mickey Egan of SC, John Lewis of Fla., Hal Hoops (Peggy) of Calgary, AB; nieces, Bessie MacKay of Lockeport, Myra Mattall of Windsor, ON; cousin, Loraine Donnatti of Sandy Point, and many American relatives including cousins Judy Kovenock of North Carolina and Jean Goldberg, New York. She was predeceased by her niece, Joyce Wilson of Chester.
She was delighted to meet her first great granddaughter Tabitha Skye just a week before her death, and to spend more time with her great grandson William Bruce. A descendant of the early settlers of Shelburne County, Vivian was born in her father’s birthplace, Little Port L’Hebert, to Samuel Avery Lewis, and Sarah Anne (Prince) Lewis, who was born in Princeton, Nfld. Her siblings, Guerwood, Farish, Doris Hoops, Myrah, and Clayton predeceased her. She grew up in Lockeport, where she met and married William “Bill” Malcolm MacMillan (1910-1959) in 1938. She opened and ran a country inn there, MacMillan Manor, for thirty years before moving to Windsor. Vivian’s passion for community organizations began early in Lockeport and continued throughout her life. She initiated many projects which improved life for children, families and seniors. She made positive differences for the whole community and has been recognized with many awards for her volunteer service. She has always credited volunteering with keeping her alive and alert. In Lockeport, she became leader of her Sunday School, later serving with United Church Women and Maritime Conference of the United Church where she headed the Church in Society Committee and participated in the development of Sherbrooke Lake Camp. She served a term on Lockeport Town Council. Vivian was very active with the Boy Scouts of Canada, starting the first Cub Pack in Lockeport and eventually presenting that Cub Pack to Governor General Vincent Massey. She served in leadership roles in the Home and School Association, the Red Cross, Tourism Associations and Garden Clubs. She promoted a variety of programs to continue the engagement of seniors in their communities, initiating Centers for Seniors in both Lockeport and Windsor, organizing the Seniors Citizens Council for Hants County, chairing the Board of Nova Scotia Senior Citizens and Pensioners, and coordinating the 1989 International Year of the Older Person. Vivian was recognized for her contributions to the betterment of her community and to the well-being of the province, receiving the Red Cross Service Award in 1975 and their Distinguished Service Award in 1984, the Remarkable Seniors Award in 1990 presented by Lt. Governor Lloyd Crouse, the Nova Scotia Exceptional Senior Award in 2000, the Judy Fry Volunteer of the Year Award from the Town of Windsor in 2000, and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2002, presented by the Honourable John Hamm. Vivian was a lifetime member of the United Church of Canada and 35 year member of Windsor United Church. Many thanks to the Windsor Elms for their wonderful loving care of Vivian; making her last years among her happiest. Arrangements have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., Windsor (902-798-8317), where the family will receive visitors Friday, September 23 from 7-9 p.m. A funeral service celebrating Vivian’s life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, September 24 in DeMont Family Funeral Home Chapel. Vivian’s longtime minister and friend, the retired Rev. Bill Gibson will be officiating. A reception will be held in the funeral home’s Elmcroft Reception Centre. Interment will be held at a later date in Osborne Cemetery, Shelburne Co. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Vivian may be made to the Windsor Elms Village Chaplaincy or Community Garden Fund, 174 Falmouth Dyke Rd., Falmouth, NS B0P 1L0. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca