It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend.
Betty died peacefully February 18, 2009, in the Palliative Care Unit of the Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow, surrounded by her family.
She was born in Pine Tree on August 9, 1919, the daughter of the late Wyndham and Marjorie (MacQueen) Weir and made her home in Pine Tree for the next 85 years, only recently relocating to New Glasgow.
A graduate of New Glasgow High School and the Nova Scotia Normal College, she taught at Priestville Elementary School and East Pictou Rural High. She retired from formal teaching in 1976 but continued to pursue her love for children in her next career as a fulltime grandmother and eventually a great-grandmother.
“Nan”, as she was affectionately known to many, was the family matriarch. Nothing was more important to her than her family, both past and present. She traced her own family history back several generations, documented the details for all who came after and encouraged others to do the same. She entertained her descendants with stories of their ancestors to the very end.
She loved to travel touring from St. Anthony, NL to Sechelt, BC and from Sachs Harbour, NT to the Gulf of Mexico, and beyond, her favourite vacation destination being the island of Oahu which she felt privileged to have visited on several occasions.
Always active in her community, she was a former Secretary of the Pictou East Progressive Conservative Association and a member of the Retired Teachers Association of Nova Scotia. For more than 80 years she was a member Sutherland’s River Presbyterian Church serving as an Elder since 1979. She was a member of the Sarah Jean MacDonald Missionary Society and the AMS, a co-ordinator of the Vacation Bible School program and an active participant in the Bible Study group at Sutherland’s River. In recent years, she has been adherent at the Little Harbour Presbyterian Church.
She was also an avid reader, a comprehensive historian, a creative rug hooker, an able seamstress and a crossword puzzle aficionado.
She will be fondly remembered by her son, C.W. (“Chuck”) (Betty) MacNeil, New Glasgow; daughters, Marjorie (Joe) Mitchell, Dartmouth; and Nina (Haylett) Clarke, Pine Tree; grandchildren: Scott Mitchell, Dartmouth, Tim (Tracy) MacNeil, Halifax, Angie MacNeil (Alex Benitah), Whitehorse, YK, Hayley Clarke (David Landrigan), Halifax, Darren (Heather) Mitchell, Dartmouth, David (Mary Beth) MacNeil, New Glasgow, Andrew MacNeil (Nancy Densmore), Wolfville; great-grandchildren: Mitchell, Sarah, Jake, Natalie, Angus, Erin and Zoe; sister, Mardie Scott, Pine Tree; sister-in-law, Elsie Weir, Pine Tree; many nieces, nephews, cousins; and her dear friend and family to us all, Murdena Leil, New Glasgow.
She was predeceased by her husband, Edgar MacNeil; brothers, John Weir and Donald Weir, both of Pine Tree; and sisters, Katherine Weir, Sechelt, BC and Winifred Robson, Vancouver, BC.
The family would like to thank Dr. Spencer Barclay, Dr. Gerry Farrell, and the outstanding nurses and staff of 4 North and the Palliative Care Unit of the Aberdeen Hospital.
Her remains will rest at the H.W. Angus Funeral Home, New Glasgow with visitation on Thursday, February 19, 2009 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held at the Sutherland’s River Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 20, 2009, Diaconal Minister Debbie Stewart and Rev. Glenn MacDonald officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Palliative Care Unit of the Aberdeen Hospital or to a charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be made at angusfuneral@ns.sympatico.ca