Mary Alice 'Posey' (Smith) McKinnon
Born In: Scotchtown
Born: May 22nd, 1939
Passed in: Sydney
Passed on: October 4th, 2014
You teach, you praise, you hug, you encourage, you laugh, you live, but most of all you love. That is the best thing any wife, mother and grandmother can do.
It is with complete disbelief and broken hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and Nana Posey, surrounded by her loving family at her home in the pier, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014.
Born to the late Robert and Ellen (Burke) Smith of Scotchtown on May 22, 1939. She was the eldest of three daughters.
Always adventurous, and at the tender age of 11, Posey made a life altering journey from South Bar to Whitney Pier. Here she met and instantly fell in love with her “little Joey” McKinnon.
After a long courtship, a “Hollywood Style” wedding followed in the summer of 1958. One year later the first of Posey’s three precious jewels were born. Being a force of nature Posey maintained a full time job, while raising three kids and having an active social life.
Like many Cape Bretoners, past and present, Posey and Joe headed to Toronto for work. While busy raising their own family and making a living they opened their home to other capers looking to do the same. Posey’s heart and arms were always open to share stories, lend support and give unconditional love.
After 10 years in Toronto, Cape Breton was calling them home. They brought their family and a Superior Rust Proofing franchise back to Cape Breton. They successfully ran this business, side by side, for 22 years.
Although Posey loved the family business, she wanted new challenges. After working at Reeves Modular Homes, she landed her dream job, office manager for Sydney’s Bicentennial Celebrations. Posey’s comforting manner, unstoppable determination and creative vision culminated in a remarkable and absolutely successful year of Bicentennial Celebrations. Posey did Sydney proud.
Enjoying her public service with the Bicentennial Committee, Posey decided to challenge for a seat on city council. Although she did not win, her impact on the election was still felt. Noticing irregularities, a determined Posey and other candidates had the election overturned. Posey was proud that determined people with a just cause, can make a difference.
An interest in art led Posey and Joe to open the “Four Winds” Gallery, promoting Joe’s hand carved wood creations. They met people from all over the world and enjoyed exchanging stories and experiences. This, in turn, led them to operate the Baddeck Heritage House Bed and Breakfast. Posey’s gracious manner and Joe’s limitless stories earned them countless friends worldwide.
Posey was also very active closer to home. She facilitated and was a proud member of the Pier Garden Club, Breton Bells, Memory Lane Singers, Highland Rod and Gun Club, the Conservation School, Irish Club, Whitney Pier Historical Society and president of the Pierscape Art Festival.
Posey was an avid Sidney Crosby fan and treasured her Sid the Kid hockey jersey. Her true treasures, however were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was our greatest cheerleader, always encouraging, comforting, offering kind words, a warm hug and of course a pan of fudge, because everything was better with Nana Posey fudge.
Posey considered her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to be very different flowers from her garden. She tended that garden with love, patience, hope and strength protecting it fiercely against any harm. She proudly watched as her family grew strong and confident, ready to go out into the world. It will take all of that strength to say goodbye to such an elegant, remarkable woman.
Posey is survived by her ever loving husband of 56 years, her first and only love, Joe McKinnon; her loving children, Heather (Ross) Digou, Sydney, Brian (Sheila) McKinnon, Alder Point, Diane (Derrick) Erickson, Sydney and her Colorado traveling adopted daughter, Meg Hermann; her cherished grandchildren, Justin and Ryan Digou, Morgan, Liam and Lauchlan McKinnon, Brittany and Skylar Erickson; her loved great-grandchildren, Jayce and Logan Cloake (Amy Cloake) and Lucas Digou (Brenda Lamson); her loving sister, Faye (Floyd) Birmingham, Kitchener, Ont., her brother-in-law, Gerard (Annie) McKinnon, Sydney and numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents she was predeceased by a sister, Helen Chartier 'Bunty Beaton'; mother and father-in-law, Rod and Marg McKinnon.
Visitation will be held Wednesday 7-9 p.m. and Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., in Sydney Memorial Chapel. Funeral mass will take place Friday, Oct. 10, 2014 at 11 a.m. in Holy Redeemer Church, with Rev. Paul Murphy officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cape Breton, Whitney Pier Youth Club.
Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or emailed to sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca.
