Joseph N. MacKenzie
Passed on: December 22nd, 2017
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dad, Joseph N. MacKenzie, on December 22, 2017 in the Palliative Care Unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital with loving family by his side.
Born February 18, 1919 in Christmas Island he was the son of the late Joseph Neil and Sarah Agatha (Bryden) MacKenzie and was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Joe graduated from Sydney Academy in 1939 and went on to train at the Victoria General Hospital School of Nursing, graduating as a R.N. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a medical CPL. He was sent to La Chin P.Q. for basic training. He was posted to the Royal Canadian Air Force Hospital in Kelly Beach, North Sydney. He went on to Spotted Island, Labrador with 8CMU. He remained there with the construction unit for the winter as a Sgt. with the wireless radio and radar. The following summer, he was sent to Royal Canadian Air Force Hospital in Penn Field Ridge, NB, as a helper for X-ray and O.R. Joe was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 12 Sydney. Joe also worked 35 years at Sydney Steel in the rail mill.
Joe was a very devout Catholic who prayed the rosary nightly with a special devotion to “Our Blessed Mother”. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church, Sydney for over 60 years as well as a summer resident of Christmas Island and member of St. Barra Church. He was proud of his Celtic Heritage, was a Gaelic speaker and a member of the Gaelic Society of Cape Breton. Joe was an amazing gardener, who had a great passion for nature and played a large part spreading wild lupins throughout Cape Breton.
He is survived by his son, Joe (Jane), Sydney; daughters, Dale Marie (Malcolm) Redden, Iona and Joan (Brian) MacInnis, Halifax; grandchildren, Scott (Jaclyn), Jessie (Chris), Christopher (Marie), Joseph (Val), Jenna (Fred) and Rebecca; and Gregory (Courtney) and Ladonna (Rhyan); great-grandchildren, Haven and Adriana MacInnis, Owen and Kingston Stefura; Alice Redden and baby Redden, due in January; sisters-in-law, Jean MacKenzie, Sr. Margaret Ann Fraser CSM and Sheila Fraser, and many nieces, nephews and godchildren.
In 1950 Joe married Lillian Viola Fraser who predeceased him in 2012. He was predeceased by brothers, Fr. Neil, Archie, Michael B. and John, and sisters, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Sr. Mildred CSM, Agnes and Marie.
Visitation will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, December 27 at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 28 at Holy Redeemer Church, Whitney Pier, with Rev. Paul Murphy officiating. Interment in St. Barra Cemetery, Christmas Island. Reception to follow at Christmas Island Firehall.
Donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Words of comfort may be sent to his family by visiting www.twcurry.com.
