Halifax/Sunny Brae - Marion Frances Carney (Nee: MacDonald) – It is with a great sense of loss that the family of Marion Carney announces her passing on July 7, 2017 stemming from complications related to an illness, first diagnosed six years ago. Marion died peacefully in her home of fifty-one years accompanied by her caregiver, whose professionalism and loyalty is recognized as a positive factor in Mrs. Carney's daily struggle to live out the final years of her life independently. She was in her 87th year.
Marion Frances Carney was the oldest of seven children born to the late Finlay Howard MacDonald and the late Mary Ann MacDonald (Nee: Somerville) of Sunny Brae, Nova Scotia.
Born in the family home in rural Nova Scotia, Mrs. Carney's formative years were spent in and around the village of Sunny Brae, where she developed a strong personality and learned the benefits of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. It was also during her formative years that she began a lifelong passion for the piano, and during her life playing music for others to enjoy was a common theme in her life history, and of course she loved to dance.
She began her public school education at Sunny Brae School, and later graduated from public school in 1947 from New Glasgow High School. After graduating from Grade 12, her goal was to break with the traditional values of the day and forge ahead with a professional career in teaching. In 1948, Marion enrolled and successfully graduated from the Provincial Normal College (now Nova Scotia Teachers College) in 1949. Marion started her teaching career at Pleasant Valley, Pictou County in 1950, and went on to teach at Abercrombie School, Glencoe School and Duc d'Anville Elementary, Clayton Park, where she retired as a reading specialist. Many of Mrs. Carney's former students have praised the role Marion's skills as an educator played in their own academic and professional achievements.
Marion began her own family, marrying in 1950 to John F. Carney her husband of twenty-nine years. Mr. Carney passed away in 1979. She lived her life as an active prosocial member of the community. Marion had one son, Donald Carney.
Marion was an active member of Calvin Presbyterian Church in Halifax where she loved to play the piano for the Sunday School students and was involved in several other areas of church life. Her involvement with the church dominated her life prior to the deterioration of her health in 2011.
Much of her time as a retiree was spent traveling with her partner the late Ken Mackay, also an active member of the church, and her trips to Florida and many other American states was a yearly activity. Throughout her life she also had a passion for red sports cars.
Marion was predeceased by her husband John, a graduate of UNB in Civil Engineering and WWII Veteran, brother Reginald, sister Nancy and sister Alice Diane in infancy. She is survived by, and will be lovingly missed by her son, Donald Carney, Halifax; brothers Gerald (Barbara) MacDonald, New Glasgow, retired Judge Clyde MacDonald, New Glasgow; her sister and best friend, Virginia (Daniel) MacDonald, Halifax, sister-in-law Colette MacDonald, Ottawa, several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Halifax visitation will be Wednesday, July 12, from 2-4 and 6-8 at Snow's Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Dr. Halifax. Followed by a New Glasgow visitation on Friday, July 14 at R.H. Porter Funeral Home, 55 Almont Ave. New Glasgow from 2-4 and 7-9.
Marion never forgot where she came from, and was proud to call Sunny Brae her home and always maintained fond relationships with the people from Sunny Brae. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2017, the 32nd anniversary of her father's death, at the Calvin Presbyterian Church, Sunny Brae at 2 pm. Marion will be laid to rest alongside her husband John at the Sunny Brae Cemetery. A reception will follow after the burial.
If desired, donations may be made to the Sunny Brae War Memorial Society.