Hector \'Hec\' MacNeil
Lieu de naissance : North Sydney, Nouvelle Ecosse, Canada
Date de naissance : 14 février 1913
Lieu de décès : Nouvelle Ecosse, Canada
Date de décès : 25 août 2009
A long and happy life came to a peaceful end, as Hector MacNeil, age 96, a former resident of North Sydney passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at Harbourview Hospital, Sydney Mines, where he was a resident for past four years.
Hec was born in North Sydney on February 14, 1913 the son of the late Roderick and Lucy (MacNeil) MacNeil. He was employed as a butcher by the British Canadian Cooperative Store in North Sydney before enlisting in the Navy in 1943. After being discharged from the Navy in 1946, he returned to the British Canadian Cooperative as a manager, later working as meat manager at Rahey’s Supermarket in North Sydney until he retired. Hec’s life was marked by a love of his community and the people around him. Decades after his retirement, he could still remember his old customers from the Cooperative not by name, but by account number, those customers remembered him for his generosity and sharp wit. He was a tireless volunteer with Progressive Conservative Party. He also sat on several boards, including the Northside Harbourview Hospital Board of Directors, the Northside Hospital Foundation, and the Municipal Welfare Appeals Board. He was deeply committed to his volunteer work with Branch #19 of the Royal Canadian Legion, doing everything from sitting as a member of the executive committee to running the weekly bingo games. For these efforts, Hec was made a lifetime member of the Legion in 1989. He was also a proud member of the Cape Breton Naval Veterans Association. He was member of St. Joseph Church, North Sydney.
Summers were spent at his beloved cabin in Barrachois, where he entertained friends, played cards, and told tall tales. He also entertained his own kids, along with their friends and cousins. The kids adored ‘Higgs’ (as they called him) and in return, Higgs was an unlimited source of boat rides, practical jokes and bonfires. It will come as no surprise to those who knew Hec that his unflappable good humour and positive outlook sustained him until the end.
Hec is survived by his son Leonard, Sydney and daughters Pauline (Tom) Taylor, Ross Ferry, and Laurnice (Roy) MacLeod, Dartmouth; his four grandchildren Lisa (Peter Kenyon) Taylor, Toronto, Jennifer (Daniel) Hood, Ian MacLeod and Kyle MacLeod, all of Dartmouth; three great-grandchildren Drew Rose and Ryan Hood, and Leo Kenyon, also surviving is his brother Danny (Joan) MacNeil, North Sydney, and many nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed.
Hec was predeceased by his wife of 65 years Rose (Steele) MacNeil in 1999; by brothers, Joe and John MacNeil; sister, Mary MacNeil, and daughter-in-law, Marilyn MacNeil
Visitation for Hec will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. A Funeral Mass will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Church with Rev. Jake Andrea officiating. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Sydney.
Memorial donations may be made the Canadian Cancer Society or the Veterans Comfort Fund at Harbourview Hospital, Sydney Mines.
Online condolences may be sent to info@wjdooley.com.
