Joseph 'Joe' MacPherson
Born In: St. Andrews, Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: October 18th, 2012
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our loving father on October 18, 2012 at the Northside General Hospital, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Born in St. Andrews, Antigonish County in 1928, he was the son of the late Daniel and Catherine (Chisholm) MacPherson.
In 1949, Dad attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College to learn more about his passion for farming. He moved to North Sydney to continue his career as a Linesman with Eastern Light and Power and later with the Nova Scotia Power Corporation where he retired after 36 years of service. It was there that he formed many lifelong friendships. He was an active and devoted parishioner of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church serving on various committees and was a former member of the parish choir. He was a member of the Father William Keily Council Knights of Columbus for 51 years and a fourth degree member of the Father William B. MacLeod General Assembly, Sydney.
Dad was a hard worker who led a very happy and active life. Dad had a great passion for life, loving the outdoors and especially tending to his yearly vegetable gardens and returning to his family home in St. Andrews, Antigonish County. Dad was our “Mr. Fix It” and enjoyed doing small projects in his garage. He was an avid sports fan who played recreational hockey for many years and who followed the sporting activities of his children and grandchildren with great pride. He can be fondly remembered for his sense of humour, quick wit, and storytelling. His optimism and outlook on life was an inspiration to all that knew him both before and during his illness. His faith gave those around him strength and courage.
He will be sadly missed by his five children and 12 grandchildren. Joseph (Mary), Sydney, and their children Julia, Joseph, Sean, and Margaret; Elizabeth (Melvin) MacLean, North Sydney, and daughter Ashley; Daniel (Dana), Burlington, Ontario and children Olivia and Rebecca; Margaret Gray, North Sydney and her sons, Daniel, James, and Robert; Michael (Rachelle), Guelph, Ontario, and their sons Gregory and Adam.
Dad is also survived by his sister Mary Long, Halifax and his many nieces, nephews, family, friends and neighbors who played a very important part in our dad’s life. Joe was predeceased by his wife, Mary Eleanor (House), in December 2006 after 49 years of marriage and predeceased by siblings Dan A, Margaret, Dan William and Sadie.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the staff on 4 West, Northside General Hospital for their constant care and compassion shown to our father during his one year stay. Many thanks to Dr. John Kirkpatrick, Dr. Peter Poulos, the Hospice Palliative Care, The Knights of Columbus, and the staff at the Cancer Treatment Center at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Monday Oct. 22 at W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. A celebration of life will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday October 23 at St. Joseph’s Church, North Sydney, with Rev. Daniel G. MacDonald, Joe’s nephew and Monsignor Edward House, Joe’s brother-in-law officiating. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Sydney.
Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton or the Northside Hospital Foundation. Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com.
“A beautiful memory dearer than gold,
Of a father whose worth can never be told,
There’s a place in our hearts no one can fill,
We will miss you Dad, and always will”
