Rachel 'Rae' MacNeil
Born In: Glace Bay
Passed in: Glace Bay
Passed on: November 19th, 2013
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Rachel 'Rae' MacNeil on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, at the Glace Bay Hospital at the young age of 92.
Born in Glace Bay, Rae was the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Keylor.
She was the last surviving member of her siblings, Mary, Joe, John, Margaret, Anne, Tess and Bertha.
Rae was also predeceased by her husband, John A. MacNeil and leaves her children, Phonse (Linda), Miles and Agnes (Paul Carreiro) and her grandchildren, Elizabeth and Alexander, Grant, Joy, Dawn and Sandra and their children, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews and many friends.
Rachel was a long-standing member of St. Anne’s parish. She was an active member of the Catholic Women’s League, proud of being the longest-standing and oldest member of the CWL at St. Anne’s. Rachel also volunteered for many years canvassing for the Cancer Society. She enjoyed playing bridge and for years she and John A. directed the bridge games at St. Anne’s. After John A.’s passing, she continued to direct the games on her own for more than two decades. She was a devout Catholic who lived her faith and was a role model for us all. She loved to laugh, loved to meet and talk with people, and continued to make new friends even while she was in the Glace Bay Hospital these last months.
Rachel’s family would like to thank Dr. MacLean, without whose care they would not have enjoyed their mother’s company for these last years. Many thanks to the New Waterford Home Care for providing so many wonderful caregivers, and in particular a special thank you to longtime caregiver, Valerie Wadden for her extraordinary care. The family would also like to thank the nursing and kitchen staff of the Glace Bay Hospital who provided such excellent care these last months.
Visitation for Rachel MacNeil will be held on Friday, Nov. 22 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 16 Reserve St., Glace Bay. The funeral mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Anne’s Parish with Fr. Leo Boone officiating. Interment will take place at St. Anne’s Cemetery. A luncheon will follow in the church foyer.
Online condolences to the MacNeil family are available through www.vjmcgillivray.ca.
