Marilyn MacLeod
Born: July 6th, 1941
Passed on: February 18th, 2019
To quote our mom, "I've had a wonderful life".
It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of a beautiful woman, our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend after a lengthy illness on February 18, 2019 at home, surrounded by her family. She was born in Sydney on July 6, 1941 to the late Harold "Dick" and Mary (Caines) Tutty.
Mom loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings and all her extended family and friends with all her heart. She had many cousins, nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly and spoke of often. She didn't care where you came from or where you were going. She loved you fully, with everything she had. Mom was all about love and loving life.
Mom and dad moved to Dartmouth in 1964. They then moved their family back home to Glace Bay in 1969 and opened Victoria Haven Nursing Home. They also had a beauty parlor, laundromat and small convenience store at different times in the New Aberdeen area of Glace Bay. They worked at the nursing home until their retirement and sale of the Home in 1998. Mom continued to care for many clients in private home care after her retirement. She loved the connection with her clients and their families and finally had her second retirement from private care in 2010.
Mom loved to travel. She spent a month travelling through quite a few European countries. Mom and dad also enjoyed their vacations down south. They had so many wonderful memories from their trips and made many new friends along the way. Mom used to love spending time with the older "snow birds" gathered around the pool. She used to lovingly call it her southern nursing home.
Mom will be forever missed by her children, Steve (Mary) and Kimberly (Gary) with whom she resided, all of Glace Bay, and Debbie (Rod) of Halifax; along with her granddaughters, Cierena (Angus), Zara (Steven); grandson, Stephen, and great-granddaughters, Natalie, Allie and Maddison. She is survived by her brothers, Stanley "Buddy" (Gloria) of Greenwood, David (Ann) of Glace Bay, Michael (Eva) of Norway; sister, Melanie of Sydney; sister-in-law, Joan Morrison of Sydney, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, mom was predeceased by her husband, Harold William (Bill) MacLeod; her sister, Diane Conrod; her brothers-in-law, Fred MacLeod and Alexander "Dee" Morrison, and nephew, Randy Morrison.
Mom could have never gotten through her illness without the compassionate care provided by the staff of the General Hospital Adult Day Program (Annie MacQueen and girls), the nurses of VON, Palliative Care Nova Scotia (Michelle Kelly), Dr. Gordon Spencer and his receptionist, Jeannie, and the many physicians involved in her care.
Mom found great comfort in music of all types throughout her life, but especially during her illness. Nothing would make her happier than knowing a toast was raised in her honour to a great toe-tapper.
In lieu of flowers, the family request a donation to the Alzheimer's Society, the General Hospital Adult Day Program, your charity of choice or simple kindness to a stranger you meet in passing.
Upon mom's request, there will be no visitation or services, and cremation has taken place. Interment will be held at Forest Haven Memorial Gardens, Grand Lake Road, at a later date.
