Donald Angus Smith
The family of Donald Angus Smith are saddened to announce the death of their father in the An Cala unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Dad had a long life, 98 years, blessed with excellent health, and even during his short illness continued to love life.
Dad was a very quiet man he was born in a small community outside Inverness known as Inverside. The son of Ronald and Katie Gillis of Southwest Margaree. Dad also had a stepmother who he had the greatest respect for and we called Grandma. One of his first big trips was during the depression, his sister found him a job in Montreal, when he arrived in Montreal by train, there were so many lights he thought he was in heaven. He was in Montreal when WWII called for Canadian Soldiers. He volunteered to join the # 6 Royal Canadian Army Medical Core. We were all so proud to tell the nursing staff Dad was a medic and he made .50 cents a day trades pay.
During the war years he met our Mom, Celia Corrigan in Glasgow Scotland. They were married for over sixty years. Dad settled his family in Ashby, and was employed as the Janitor of Constantine School and St. Joseph School. He was a faithful member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, and in his days with no voice we could see he was praying. During his more active days he enjoyed attending meetings at Ashby Legion and the Comrade Ship of his fellow Veterans. We were so proud when he was awarded the French metal from France and the Ashby Legion hosted a tea in his honour. He particularly treasured his friends John, Gloria and Patsy Fields.
During his retirement years he loved his cottage in Margaree. He was always amazed with the natural beauty, and attending ceilidhs in Inverness and Mabou, with his son Paul.
Dad is survived by his children, Marie, Margaret, Joseph all of Sydney and Rev Paul Smith of Vancouver; grandchildren, Jennifer (Stephen), Sudbury, ON, Kelly, Sydney, Logan, Port Hawkesbury, as well as great grandchildren. Dad had a special love for Shannon and Meaghan Grant and Robert and Elyse who were grandchildren by choice. He is also survived by Karen MacEachern, wonderful mother to his grandson.
He was predeceased by his wife, Celia; son, Francis; daughter, Katherine and granddaughter, Shelley; sisters, Martha, Mary Jessie and Mary Catherine, and brothers, Donald Joseph, John Alex, John Francis and Freddie. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Thanks to the staff of the An Cala Unit for giving our old Soldier a quiet, peaceful place to lay his head, during his last days. It will not be forgotten.
Visitation will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, December 21, 2017 at TW Curry Parkview Chapel, Sydney. Funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. on Friday, December 22 at St. Theresa’s Church with his son Rev. Paul Smith officiating. Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks.
Online condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting www.twcurry.com.
