Mary Frances MacNeil (Bardswich)
Born In: Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada
Born: October 19th, 1926
Passed in: Baddeck, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: March 31st, 2019
Surrounded by her family, Mary Frances MacNeil passed away after a brief illness, on March 31, 2019, at the age of 92 years. Born in Sydney Mines, Frances was the daughter of the late Joseph and Antoinette Bardswich. Following her marriage to her great love Stephen MacNeil in 1944, she moved to Florence, became an active volunteer, talented seamstress and entrepreneur.
Family and friends were Frances’ passion, and she loved to host and entertain. Her home was filled with laughter, music, and dancing. An avid traveler and food-lover, Frances delighted in experiencing different cultures and new adventures. She was a fabulous cook and incredible baker and was famous for her Lithuanian napoleon.
During the winter months, Frances spent time skating on the pond between Sydney Mines and Florence, cheering on her children’s hockey teams, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and the Toronto Maple Leafs. During the summer, she could be found in the garden, at the beach or watching the family harness horses dash to the finish line.
She volunteered her time with the St. Stephen’s Parish Ladies Auxiliary, Catechism and Preparation for Marriage programs, St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Anne’s Society and returned to school later in life to complete the Religious Education Certificate program at the University College of Cape Breton.
Frances will be lovingly remembered by her children, Daniel (Carol), Brian (Rita), Valeria (John) MacPherson, Nadine (Gordon) Taylor, David (Sandra), Flora (Fred) Cantwell, Paula (Phil) Smith, Melodie (Bob Pelley), and daughter-in-law, June. A devoted grandmother to Eric, Steve, Greg, Tawnya, Crystal, Danielle, Josh, Courtney, Denise, Canda Lynn, Calder, Alana, Kyle, Chad, Laura, Stephen, Philip, Kate, Sam, Macklin, and Boyd. She was a beloved great-grandmother to 18, and a great-great-grandmother to 2, and will be remembered fondly by her many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Frances is preceded in death by her three cherished sons, Joseph, Ronald, and Brendon, her brothers, Joseph, Anthony, John and William along with her sisters, Nancy, Nellie, Flora, Agnes and Alice Amelia.
Frances’ final act of kindness was to donate her remains to the Department of Medical Neuroscience at Dalhousie University. A memorial mass will take place on April 5 at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Parish in Sydney Mines with a luncheon to follow at the parish hall. Donations in her memory can be made to the Sydney Mines Food Bank or charity of choice.
