Theresa 'Ma' MacNeil
Born In: Grand Mira, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: SYDNEY, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: February 5th, 2012
It is with great sadness we the family of Theresa MacNeil announces her passing on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, at the MacGillivray Guest Home (formerly of 229 Herbert St., Sydney).
Born in Grand Mira, she was the daughter of the late Lucy (Gillis) and Charlie MacKinnon.
She was predeceased by her late husband Robert (RJ) MacNeil originally from Big Beach. Robert and Theresa had 10 children, the majority of who were still at home when Ma became a widow in 1975. Because of this, Ma went to work helping to raise many neighbourhood children as well as her own; she was with the Sawlor family the longest.
At Ma’s house everyone was always welcome and a few more potatoes would be added to the pot so that all could enjoy a bite to eat.
A visit to Ma’s always started with Ma getting her cigarettes and putting the kettle on; followed by a fresh supply of cinnamon rolls and tea biscuits. Turkey and tarabish, and of course Donnie Campbell’s Celtic Serenade was a Sunday night ritual.
As her family married and left home, Ma had a great circle of friends that she played cards with and took little weekend trips. Many stories were told about these trips and the carry on. Ma had a great sense of humour and with her Scottish brogue, even when she could not remember her family or her surroundings, her sense of humour remained.
Ma is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren Anne (Kevin) Young and their children Amy (Mike Petipas) and Christian, Linda (Bill) Irving and their children Patricia, Tracey (Jean Gabriel LaSautour), Amanda and Laura, Charlotte (Rick) Fraser and their children Bradley (Kaitie Wild), Brandon (Angie), Andrew (Liz), Bernadette (Neil) Doyle and their children Jeannine (Philip Hartiman) and Callum, Robert ‘Bobby’ (Leona) and their children Robert and Jessie, Cathy (Lorne), Norma, Madonna (Jim) Bragg and their children Sarah and Melissa, Harold, Gerard (Corrine) Cusack and children Brandee and Kristopher, Francis (Tammy) and their children Lainie and Lena; great-grandchildren, Mikayla, Lucas, Ben and Ethan Fraser and Henry Hartiman, Wyatt Wilson, Kawner Cusack. Also surviving are brothers, Allie (Pauline) and Joe (Linda) MacKinnon; sisters-in-law, Gerry and Mary ‘Girlie’, Annie T. MacNeil and Rita MacNamara; brother-in-lawm Malcolm (Frances) MacNeil.
She was predeceased by sisters and brothers, Kay Hiltz, Jean Fitzpatrick, Jessie Wright, Mammie, Lissie, Mary, Bernard, Lauchie, John, John (in infancy) MacKinnon and Phillip Duffy.
In memory of Mom donations would be welcome to Friends of the MacGillivray Guest Home, c/o MacGillivray Guest Home, 25 Xavier Dr., Sydney, N.S. or the charity of your choice.
Visitation for the late Mrs. MacNeil will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7 at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8 at St. Theresa’s Church, Rev. Jim Oliver officiating.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.twcurry.com.
