Farrell, Margaret Rita (Heuser), Valley, NS, passed away unexpectedly at home on Tuesday, December 26, 2017, in her 94th year. Born September 29, 1924 in Antigonish, NS, she was the daughter of the late Gustav Heuser and Flora MacIsaac, River Denys, Cape Breton. Her last thoughts may well have been "I don't have time for this!", leaving many paintings and quilts unfinished and firewood left in the woods. She is the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was predeceased by her husband Maurice Farrell in 1976. She leaves a legacy in her children, Fred (Mary McLaughlin) of Fredericton, NB, Nancy (Joe Carrigan), Valley, NS, Colleen (Robb Ashley), West Porters Lake, NS, and Kate (Pat Macaulay), Toronto, ON, and grandchildren Spring Farrell (Chris Martin), Lower East Chezzetcook, NS, Sam Ashley (Ali Praught), East Chezzetcook, NS, and John Angus Macaulay, Toronto, ON, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was employed by Canadian National Railways in many communities in eastern Nova Scotia as a telegrapher for over 40 years. Her first posting was in Grand Narrows, Cape Breton on August 11, 1943. She maintained a profound connection to Cape Breton and her community of River Denys and Inverness County. She was a gifted artist, musician, writer, genealogist and local historian. She was the author of the book "Our Mountains and Glens, A History of River Denys, Big Brook and Lime Hill", which included the following poem:
“Tell my friends to grieve not for me for at last I am at rest.
Free from earthly pain and trial, near the river I love best
There my sleep shall be unbroken, where the River Denys stream,
And I’ll rest in peaceful slumber near the river of my dreams.”
She will be missed by her family and many friends in the Downeast Bluegrass & Oldtime Music community, being the recipient of the Fan of the Year award in 2016. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to charity of choice. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Mattatall-Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro, where visitation will be held Thursday, December 28, 1-4 p.m., and Friday December 29, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Funeral to be held at Immaculate Conception Church, 669 Prince Street, Truro, NS, on Friday, December 29 at 2 p.m., Father Dariusz Miskowicz officiating. Reception to follow in Campbell Hall. Spring internment at Crossroads Cemetery, Valley. Private messages of condolence can be sent to the family by viewing Rita’s obituary and selecting "Send A Condolence" at: www.mattatallvarnerfh.com