Elizabeth Virginia MacDonald
Born In: New Victoria
Born: September 25th, 1925
Passed in: Sydney
Passed on: September 20th, 2014
Elizabeth Virginia MacDonald, 88, of Bentinck Street, Sydney, passed away at the MacGillivray Guest Home, Sydney on September 20, 2014 with her family by her side.
Born in New Victoria on Sept. 25, 1925, Virginia was the daughter of the late John and Theresa (McGillivray) Jessome.
Virginia taught school in Gabarus in her earlier years followed by work at the Iron City Pharmacy in Sydney where she met her husband, pharmacist Robert A. MacDonald. Virginia later worked at C. & G. MacLeod Bookstore on Charlotte Street.
Virginia and Bob married in 1950 and had five sons. They raised their family in the Shipyard. She was a longtime member of St. Anthony Daniel Parish and a founding member of the parish CWL. She was very active when her parish sponsored a Vietnamese refugee family in the late 1970s, attaining the moniker “Momma Canada”.
Virginia loved playing bridge and social gatherings of any kind, particularly those with music. Virginia had many close friends and she loved to travel, especially to Margaree to visit her lifelong friend Mary Coady. Virginia had no daughters, only sons, so Mary’s eight daughters lovingly filled the role for her.
Virginia lived her last 14 months at the MacGillivray Guest Home, a special place with a kind, compassionate staff. She made new friends there, with the staff and especially her roommate Stella Devoe.
Virginia had a special relationship with all her nieces and nephews.
Virginia loved her sons, her daughters-in-law, and especially her grandchildren. She loved her friends and her church. Virginia was touched when she saw Mother Teresa in person and carried this message in her purse wherever she went.
Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting. — Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Her motto was: “Remember the good times”.
Virginia is survived by her five sons, Robert (Heather), Bedford; Ian (Aggie), Sydney; Greg (Sharon), Sydney; Michael, Dartmouth; and Gerald (Melissa), Sydney; six grandchildren, Heather, Ian, Sheilah, Stephen, Justin and Jacob; sister, Mary (Bay) (Earl) McIsaac, New Victoria; brothers, Phonse, New Victoria, and Bernie (Lorraine), Sydney as well as many nieces and nephews.
Virginia was predeceased by her husband, Robert (Bob) in 2000 and her brothers Joey; John and his wife Willena; Jimmy, his wife Isabel and their sons, Peter and Gerard; and by sister-in-law Evelyn Jessome. She was also predeceased by Bob’s siblings Mary Ellen MacDonald and Bernard MacDonald.
Visitation for Virginia MacDonald is on Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel in Sydney. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014 at 11 a.m. at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish (St. Joseph’s Church) 40 Cabot St., Sydney, Fr. Bill Burke presiding, with interment in Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Virginia’s memory to the R.C. MacGillivray Guest Home, 25 Xavier Drive, Sydney, N.S., B1S 2R9.
Condolences to the family can be sent to www.twcurry.com.
