Mary Remigius (MacNeil) MacDonald
Born: May 18th, 1919
Passed on: June 25th, 2008
89, New Waterford With great sadness, we announce the loss of our Mother, Mary, who passed away peacefully at the New Waterford Consolidated Hospital on June 25, 2008, after a brief illness. Mary was born in New Waterford on May 18, 1919, and was the second child of James Daniel MacNeil and Mary Ann Marsh. Mary attended high school at Mount Carmel where she developed a love of Latin. In later years, she enjoyed coaching her children in their Latin studies. Following high school, she was employed as a sales clerk at Benny Epstein’s clothing store until her marriage to our father, Angus ‘Curly’ MacDonald in 1942. They resided in Woodstock, Ont., where Mom forged new friends while Dad served as an instructor at the nearby army base. Following the war, they returned to New Waterford to settle and raise a family. Mary was devoted to family. The love and respect she expressed to her own parents and siblings was one of the many values she imparted to her children. She had tremendous compassion for others, seeking goodness in their character and offering empathy. She encouraged her children and grandchildren to value commitment and hard work and was very proud of their accomplishments. She took great interest and pride not only in their academic accomplishments, but also in their capacity as loving adults and parents. At the age of 57, Mary lost her husband and mother within a four-month period and entered a new phase in her life when she could devote time to friends, grandchildren, and personal interests. She became a bingo enthusiast and for many years and enjoyed the companionship of her friends at bingo. She was a founding member of the Devco Pensioners’ Relief Association and actively served on the executive committee. Mary was a devout Roman Catholic; she had a passion for baking; she enjoyed reading, knitting, gardening, and solving cryptograms. In recent years, when Mary was confined to her home, she appreciated the service of her homecare workers. She is survived by her children, grandchildren and their families: Son, Bill MacDonald and daughter-in-law Lorna; granddaughter, Michelle and great-granddaughters, Lauren, Erin and Julia; grandson, Bill and his wife Rachel, and great-granddaughter, Hannah, all of Sydney; daughter, Marcia Currie and son-in-law Jim of Halifax, and granddaughter, Dr. Maria Currie, London, Ont.; son, Allister MacDonald and daughter-in-law Rhoda; granddaughters, Louise and Breagh and grandson, Michael, all of New Waterford; son, Parker MacDonald of New Waterford; son, Paul MacDonald and daughter-in-law Jeannette; granddaughters, Angela and Natalie and grandson, Shawn, all of Brampton, Ont.; granddaughter, Brenda Lee Drake and her husband Cory, and great-grandchildren, Haley, Jade, Kaine; granddaughter, Lisa; grandson, Gregory and great-granddaughters, Merissa and Brianna, all of New Waterford. Mary was predeceased by husband, Angus MacDonald and sons, John Gregory and James Daniel. She is survived by her sister, Vina MacIntyre. She was predeceased by stepfather, William Doyle, and siblings, Evelyn Popaduk, Lila Tighe, Marion Leonard, John Doyle, and James Doyle. There will be no visitation. Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, June 28, at 2 p.m. in the Parish of St. Leonard, Mount Carmel Church. Interment in Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a reception at Carmel Centre following the mass. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith St., New Waterford. To send messages of condolence, visit www.vjmcgillivray.ca.
