Pearl McDonald
Born In: Lamaline, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Born: May 3rd, 1926
Passed in: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: April 4th, 2011
It is with an aching in our hearts and an everlasting love that we, the family of Pearl (Hillier) McDonald, of Emerald Street, North Sydney, announce her passing at the Northside General Hospital on Monday, April 4, 2011.
A loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend, Pearl was born in Lamaline, Nfld., on May 3, 1926. She, along with her parents and siblings emigrated to North Sydney in 1927.
Pearl was the daughter of the late Ernest and Lucy (Crews) Hillier.
She was a homemaker at heart and prior to her illness took great pride in her home and in providing a hot meal on the table for her family and anyone else who needed a good home-cooked meal. Her door was always open to the neighbourhood kids who seized every opportunity to share a meal with her children. She was an inspiration to her family; strong, courageous and the rock that we all leaned on. She had a quick wit and a wonderful sense of humour. We will always remember her silliness and her laughter.
Pearl is survived by her loving children, Paula, Paulette and Sheri (Leo), at home, who devoted the past few years of their lives to Mom’s full-time care, Amelia (Dougie) Chisholm, Sydney Mines, Lucy (Kevin) Miller, Big Bras d’Or, Doug (Donna), North Sydney, Colin (Jane) Cleveland, N.S., Pat, Florence, Sandy (Linda), Port Hawkesbury, Blair (Romaine), Sydney Mines; daughters-in-law, Debbie, North Sydney, and Shirley McDonald, Millville; son-in-law, Rick Simm, Florence; special granddaughter, Emily, at home; sisters, Mary (Mim) Bragg, Lyn (Bob) Ballam, Sharon (Hector) Lantz, all of North Sydney, Lillian (Bob) Dolomont, Aylesford, N.S.; brothers, Howard ‘Nipper’ (Betty), Ernie (Betty), Joe (Pearl), all of North Sydney, Alex (Millie), Big Bras d’Or; grandchildren, Kim, Kent, Aimee, Stacey, Krista, Rick, Joey, Lisa, Tara, Colin, Rhonda, R.P., Mark, Kelsey, Tanya, Meagan, Allison, Stephen, Jordan and Emily; and 21 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her parents, who celebrated 75 years of marriage in 1995, prior to her mother’s death in 1996, followed by her father’s death in 1998. She was also predeceased by her loving and devoted husband, Raymond ‘R.P.’ in 1997; her loving daughter, Dale (Rick) Simm in 2001, her sons, David (Debbie) in 1995, John in 1964, also by sisters, Cora in infancy, Meta (Maurice) Casey, Daisy (Eddie Noble) (Jimmy Donovan), brothers, Clyde and Maurice in infancy, special nephew, Erin Ballam and his foster brother, Robert, who died tragically in 1989.
In following her wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation. A mass of Christian burial will take place at St. Joseph Church, Archibald Avenue, North Sydney, on Saturday, April 9, 2011, at 10 a.m. with Rev. Jake Andrea officiating. Burial to take place in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Sydney.
Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of Mom’s life, to be held in the basement of St. Joseph Church immediately following the mass.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney.
Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com
“We will cherish her memory for the remainder of our days!”
