Charles 'Sharkey' MacDonald
Lieu de naissance : New Waterford, Nouvelle Ecosse, Canada
Date de naissance : 14 octobre 1922
Lieu de décès : New Waterford, Nouvelle Ecosse, Canada
Date de décès : 29 août 2010
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Charles 'Sharkey' MacDonald of New Waterford on Sunday, August 29, 2010, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.
Born in New Waterford October 14, 1922, he was a son of the late Teresa (MacPherson) and Ronald MacDonald.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Teresa (MacKinnon); sons, Bernie (Donna), Ronnie (Sandra), Paul (Natalie); daughter Barbara (Wayne). 'Poppy' Sharkey is also survived by 11 grandchildren, David (Mary), Pamela (J.F.), Andrew MacDonald, Tony (Alysia), Robert, Mark (April) Crowe, Danielle, Matthew, and Stephen MacDonald, Christian and Tyler MacDonald; seven great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, especially Sandra MacNeil, with whom he would watch several sporting events on television; brother Archie MacDonald; sisters Peggy Beaton and Veronica Josey. He will be especially missed by his constant companion, his dog, Digger.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his sisters Mary, Gertie, Taty, Tesy, Doreen and brothers John 'Buddy', Ernie and Ronald 'Junior'.
Sharkey was a good man who lead a very full and active life. As a youth, he enjoyed many sports, especially hockey and boxing. The nickname 'Sharkey' came from his supposed resemblance to the great boxer Jack Sharkey. He played local hockey in his early teens and loved to tell the story of how, as a goalie, he was 'traded to the 14 Yard Hawks'. His passion for sports continued throughout his lifetime. He was a great supporter of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Blue Jays and was an avid Screaming Eagles fan ticket holder and could be found at all home games. In 1940 at the early age of 18, Sharkey signed up to go overseas and fought with the Cape Breton Highlanders. He served in England, Italy (where he was wounded) and Holland. His overseas time was a very pivotal time in his life and he was instrumental in the formation of the local Cape Breton Highlanders Association. One of his proudest accomplishments was the part he played in the establishment of the Cape Breton Highlanders' Cenotaph on Kings Road in Sydney. Upon his return from the war, he met and married Teresa and raised a wonderful family. Sharkey worked for over 40 years, first as a miner for the Dominion Coal Company and then as a security guard for Devco. Sharkey was very civic-minded and served as town councillor for the town of New Waterford for over 17 years and was instrumental in the progressive ventures in the town. He was a member of the Parish Church of St. Leonard and a long standing member of the Knights of Columbus. He will be sadly missed.
Visitation will be held Tuesday (today) from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith St., New Waterford. A funeral mass of celebration for Sharkey will take place Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Parish Church of St. Leonard, Mount Carmel Ave., with Father Doug MacDonald officiating. Burial will be in Mount Carmel cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Plummer Ave., New Waterford. Members of the K.O.C. will assemble for a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the funeral home.
Donations in Sharkey's memory may be made to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation.
Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca.
A special thank you to the staff of the CCU at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Their kindness and compassion will never be forgotten.
Isle of the Eastern Shore
O Island of the Eastern Shore
To us you are so dear,
The grandeur of your rolling hills
Will ever hold us near.
You stand there so majestically
The world you would defy,
Inspiration to your fighting sons
On land, at sea, in sky.
You gathered us at childhood
As we left our mother's knee,
Taught us love of nature
A way of life that's free.
Now we fight in distant lands
Where men are not as free,
But our dreams are of Cape Breton
Our Island by the sea.
And when those warring nations
Are crushed to rise no more,
We'll come back to our Cape Breton
Isle of the Eastern Shore.
