Margaret Catherine (MacLeod) MacRitchie, 86, Little Narrows, Victoria County, died very peacefully on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010 in Victoria County Memorial Hospital in Baddeck, Nova Scotia.
Born in Jubilee, Victoria County, Margaret was the only daughter of Kenneth Thomas and Annie (Ross) MacLeod.
In Margaret’s younger years she worked at the Isle Royale Hotel in Sydney, even managing to save enough money to buy her first piano, which she and her family truly enjoyed. Once putting the girls to bed she would spend many nights ‘tinkering out’ the old songs which her children still know and love today.
Nannie always made plenty of time to sit rocking her grandchildren and making up special lullabies for each one of them.
Margaret’s true “occupation” was to serve others. She was the happiest when she was cooking, baking or just caring for everyone else, with no one person being any more important than another. She welcomed everyone into their home day or night and you knew it was just expected that you would be having a cup of tea and hopefully one of her delicious biscuits.
Never the less, Margaret was very competitive when it came to a good game of auction, often keeping her opponents up until all hours.
Margaret was a very devoted member of the Little Narrows Presbyterian Church where she served with the ladies aid for many years and supported them in any way she could.
Margaret is survived by her two daughters, Anne (Lawrence) MacNeil, Ottawa Brook, Victoria County and Jeanie (Robert) MacKinnon, Eureka, Pictou County, N.S. Margaret was a truly loving woman and no one knew this better than her six grandchildren whom she adored, Laura and Rachael MacNeil and Ceilidh, Reilly, Lauchlin and Cullan MacKinnon. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Ruth MacLeod. Also left to feel Margaret’s loss is her dear friend Janet Probert of North Sydney who lived with the MacRitchies for 25 years and was simply ‘one of their family’. She and Allister were privileged to have many nieces and nephews whom they deeply cared for, who will feel her loss as well.
Margaret lived her entire life in a small area of Little Narrows known as ‘The Corner’ where several families were really molded together as one. Because of such a privileged upbringing she also leaves behind many more “sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and grandchildren” whom she genuinely considered family.
Margaret was predeceased by her loving husband of 54 years, Allister Campbell MacRitchie and her only brother, Gordon MacLeod.
Visitation will be on Sunday, Nov. 7 from 2 to 9 p.m. in the Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home in Whycocomagh. Margaret’s funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 8, 2010, in the Little Narrows Presbyterian Church with her first cousin, Rev. Ian MacLeod officiating and burial will follow in the Little Narrows Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Victoria County Memorial Hospital Foundation or the Little Narrows Presbyterian Cemetery Fund.
Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at www.haverstocks.com.
“The angels sang Amazing Grace
The Lord came down and touched her face
Held her hand and whispered low
Come with me it’s time to go
The gates of Heaven opened wide
The angels lined up side by side
And a special gift was on her way
The day God took our Mother away.”

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