Irene MacKinnon, RN
Born In: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: December 16th, 2009
It is with sad but peaceful hearts that we announce the passing of our gentle natured mom, Irene Frances MacKinnon, on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009.
Irene was the youngest and last surviving member of a family of 14 born to Joseph Bernard Gouthreau and Mary Sophia White on Thursday, Jan. 29, 1920. She was born and raised in the family home built by her father in the late 1800s and it was there she raised her own 11 children.
Mom left us many great legacies but her greatest by far was her love of God, prayer and the church. She was a devote Catholic who consistently practised her faith in all aspects of her life.
Mom was involved in her church, St. Joseph parish, as part of the funeral choir team, funeral reception team and as a weekday lector. She took in all church functions and loved to be with friends and family where celebrating life was her greatest pleasure.
Mom had a great spirit of adventure and loved to travel. Her adventures took her to Scotland and to the Holy Land where she floated in the Dead Sea. She also made many trips to Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to visit her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She travelled to Rhode Island many times where she visited with her two special nieces, Moria Libby and Mickey McGovern.
At 89 years of age, mom could be found bowling and playing darts once a week and cribbage three times a week.
Before getting married, mom worked as a nurse in the Hamilton Memorial Hospital in North Sydney, and although she did not return to work after the birth of her first child, mom continually practised her nursing skills looking after both her mother and father before they died, her children and many of the neighbour’s children when little injuries occurred.
Missing mom today are her children, Vincent, (Mary), Ian (Lori), Jimmy (Michelle), Ray, all of Alberta, Gilbert (Lori), Saskatchewan, Therese (Henry), Marion (Bob), both of Manitoba, Larry (Debbie), Irene (John), Estelle (Byron), all of North Sydney; special daughter-in-law, Debbie, Saskatchewan; her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She will be fondly remembered by the Dinaut children and their families, special niece, Yvonne Gouthreau and friend, Sheligha Drews, Patsy Clarke and family, brother-in-law, Archie MacKinnon (Nora) and his family, sister-in-law, Stacia Tobin and her family, the MacDonald family, and sister-in-law, Cecilia Goora (Edmund) and family. Also missing mom are her godchildren Frank Garnier, Robbie MacDonald and Adrienne Penny, longtime neighbour, Lonnie Garnier and family, and of course the many friends she made through church, bowling, darts and cribbage.
Mom was predeceased by her best friend and soulmate, Ray MacKinnon (1994) and a beloved son, Anthony (1974).
Mom you may not be here in person but you will always be in our hearts.
Visitation will be held Sunday, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. A funeral mass will be celebrated Monday, 2 p.m. from St. Joseph Church, North Sydney, with Rev. Jim Attwood officiating. Burial at a later date in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Sydney.
Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or Hospice Palliative Care of C.B.
Online condolences may be sent to info@wjdooley.com.
