The death occurred on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, in Gore Bay, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, of Mildred Ann (MacDonald) Cusack, age 101, mother of Doreen Beagan of Charlottetown.
Born in South Lake, P.E.I., in 1909, she was the last survivor of the nine children of Catherine McKenna and Lewis (Johnny Angus) MacDonald. In 1953 she moved from Tracadie Cross to Ontario, first to Toronto, later to Owen Sound, and finally to Manitoulin Island, near the home of her daughter Sharon.
The early years of her marriage were spent in Tracadie, original home of her nine children. Now spread across Canada, they are Doreen Beagan; Burnell/Bernie (Patricia); Leigh (Jill); Kevin (Carole); Glendyn/Glen (Sandra); Colleen Miller Dunn (Gordon); Sharon Stephens (Richard); Wayne (Claire); Pauline Loos (Barry Stokes). She is also survived by sisters-in-law Helen and Frances MacDonald (Halifax), and dear cousin Kevin McKenna and wife Geraldine (Oshawa), other special friends in various countries, as well as 21 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, and cousins, nieces, and nephews in Canada, Australia and Africa.
She was predeceased by an infant brother and sister, seven other brothers and five of their wives; sons-in-law, Tom Beagan and Gordon Dunn; daughters-in-law, Frances Walker and Lola Tobobadung; grandson, Grant Cusack; her husband Emmett (1983); and all eight of his sisters and brothers and their spouses.
Mildred lived a full and busy life. A teacher by training and inclination, she taught in the Toronto Catholic school system and Frontier College in B.C., as well as several places in P.E.I. There was nothing she would not undertake. Besides holding a wide range of jobs over the years, she was involved in several mini business projects from fox farming, to selling eggs and butter, to keeping boarders and operating a day care. She was passionate about many causes and until sidelined by declining health, was always intensely involved in church and community activities and projects wherever she lived. Concern for the disadvantaged led her to help establish a Half Way House in Owen Sound, run a home for disabled women in Kenya, and march for ProLife. Always she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, laughing and playing jokes.
A memorial mass will be held in Manitoulin Island, Ontario.
Visitation and funeral arrangements to be held at a later date on P.E.I. at the Charlottetown Funeral Home.
Arrangements have been entrusted to The Island Funeral Home in Little Currant, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, and the Charlottetown Funeral Home in P.E.I.
Online condolences may be made at www.islandowned.ca.
Memorial masses offered for her intentions, or donations to Campaign Life Coalition, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, or a women’s shelter, would be expressions of sympathy dear to Mildred’s heart.

Hommages