Genevieve ‘Debbie’ (MacDonnell) Chisholm
Born In: Mount Pleasant South Margaree
Born: September 9th, 1914
Passed in: Whitney Pier
Passed on: September 21st, 2014
Genevieve ‘Debbie’ (MacDonnell) Chisholm of Whitney Pier died peacefully at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, two weeks after celebrating her 100th birthday. She had been residing at The Cove Guest Home since January 2013.
Born Sept. 21, 1914, on Mount Pleasant, South West Margaree, Cape Breton, Gen was a long-time resident of Whitney Pier and member of Holy Redeemer Parish.
She was the eldest daughter of the late Samuel and Charlotte (Burgey) MacDonnell.
She was also predeceased by a dear aunt and uncle, Annie and Raymond Keating, who welcomed Mom at a young age into their family, husband, Ronald Hugh Chisholm, son, Raymond Hugh, son-in-law, Jerry Giorno, grandson, Michael Hugh Grassby and great-granddaughter Keira Riley Kilbane, sisters, Violet Maclean and Rose Marie McGrath, and brothers, George, Leonard, James ‘Jim’ MacDonnell and Raymond ‘Buddy’ Keating.
Gen is survived by her daughter, Anne Marie Giorno, Ben Eoin, and grandsons, Steven (Jo-Anne Brown), George’s River, and Andrew (Jennifer Voutier), Sydney River; daughter, Donna (Gerry Grassby), Oak Ridges, Ont., and grandchildren, David (Maria Jacobsson), Aurora, Ont., and William (Andréanne Legault), North York, Ont.; daughter, Ronalda (Jim Tompkins), Athens, Ohio and grandchildren, Geoffrey (Nancy Gombert), Medina, Ohio, and Jennifer (Brian Kilbane), Medina, Ohio, and son, Hugh (Kathy Bulpin), Hubley, N.S. She is also survived by great-grandchildren, Owen and Blake Giorno, Allison and Neil Giorno, Alisha Grassby and Grady Kilbane; sisters, Eileen ‘Tally’ MacNeil, Sydney, Anne (Chris) Tiller, Clearwater, Florida, and Charlotte ‘Lal’ Coleman, Baddeck, and sister-in-law, Isabel Dwyer, Sydney. Aunt Gen will be sadly missed by numerous nieces and nephews.
A special thank you goes to dedicated friend and caregiver, Linda MacDonald, who Debbie loved as one of her own.
The family wishes to thank Theresa Neville for her companionship to our mother, the VON adult day program, staff at The Cove Guest Home and staff of 4D Cape Breton Regional Hospital for their constant care of our mother during her illness.
Our Mother’s dignity and courage always shone upon her friends and family in the face of adversity.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Pier Community Funeral Home, Whitney Pier. There will be no visitation for the late Genevieve ‘Debbie’ (MacDonnell) Chisholm. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Redeemer Church, Whitney Pier on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 at 11 a.m. with Fr. Paul Murphy officiating. A reception following the mass will be held at the Pier Community Funeral Home. Interment will take place in Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in our mother’s memory to the Keira Kilbane Research Fund, in care of Brian Kilbane, 4074 Monterey Drive, Medina, Ohio USA 44256, Jerry Giorno Scholarship Fund in care of the Whitney Pier Credit Union, VON Adult Day Program or charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be forward to the family at www.pierfuneralhome.com.
