CALEDONIA, Guysborough County – Donald John (DJ) MacLean, 90, passed on October 26, 2012 in residency at the Sutherland Harris Memorial Hospital Veterans’ Unit.
Born on December 7, 1921, he was a son of the late Philip and Hughena (MacKay) MacLean in Upper Baddeck River, Victoria Co. He was a former longtime resident of Caledonia, Guysborough Co., a rural setting reminiscent of his childhood Cape Breton home.
A devoted husband and loving father, he will be deeply missed by wife Betty (Moser); children: Philip MacLean (Sherry); Leon MacLean (Clare); Charlene MacLean-Richard; Mary MacLean (Doug Lees): six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and his last surviving sibling Philip MacLean who resides at the Veterans’ Unit in Sydney, NS.
Predeceased by brothers, Johnnie, Melvin and sisters: Tina, Sadie, Sarah, Greta and Martha.
He was a member of the Cape Breton Highlanders, serving in Canada, the UK, central Mediterranean and Continental Europe until the war ended in 1945.
Proud of his scottish heritage, he loved Cape Breton fiddle music and step danced through the years with his wife of 61 years; even toe-tapping with staff during his last post at 'The Unit'.
He was reserved and easily contented with such simple pleasures as looking at a pile of logs or watching a deer in the field. Also clever and quickwitted, so the 'one liners' flowed easily off the tongue and were delivered drily with a twinkle in the eye.
He had an inventive mind and skillfull hands that allowed him to fix or build anything. No project was left unfinished and it wasn't finished til it was perfect.
Well-read and current he enjoyed discussions with his family and friends about hot topics; playing cards; buying lottery tickets; watching the birds; puttering in his workshop; talking to his brother in Gaelic; even picking a tune on his fiddle and playing the spoons. But more often during the past two years it was his family visits and drives which often ended with a biscuit and a cup of tea that brought him the most joy.
His career began with logging in Quebec, Maine and Guysborough Co., NS, followed by many years at SW Weeks Construction and carpentry projects.
Special thanks to everyone at the Veterans’ Unit with whom he established friendships and the special ones he carved with his roommates at the Veterans' Unit such as the late Jack Roy, Delbert McAllister and his special friend Hector Stone.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday at 2 p.m. from the H.W. Angus Funeral Home Chapel with Michael Simmons officiating. Burial will be in the Hattie Cemetery, Caledonia.
The family will receive visitors from 1 p.m. until the time of service at 2 p.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel.
Donations in lieu of flowers to The Hattie Cemetery Fund in Caledonia.
Gus an tachair sinn a rithist
Til we meet again.