Mary Natalie 'Nat' Wilkie
Lieu de naissance : North Sydney
Lieu de décès : North Sydney
Date de décès : 21 mai 2016
We are saddened to announce the death of Nat Wilkie on May 21, 2016, at the age of 86. A lifelong resident of North Sydney, Nat was a unique “Ward 4” character who lived life on her own terms.
Nat graduated from Hamilton Memorial Hospital in 1952 and worked there until St. Elizabeth’s (Northside General) was opened by the Sisters of Charity. She enjoyed a long career as head nurse of the surgical floor, where she touched the lives of many patients and staff. She certainly ran a tight ship!
From her family home on Purves Street, Nat watched over Indian Beach, which was an integral part of her life. She spent many hours there socializing, swimming, walking the sand bar and just soaking up the sun. She loved to watch the CN/Marine Atlantic vessels come and go and enjoyed the fury and peace of the sea. She watched the ball games and the Bill Lynch shows, and listened to the summer entertainment from her porch.
Nat was a passionate sports fan. She loved hockey and ball, and Sid the Kid was her particular hero. While watching events on TV, she cheered, shouted and complained as if she were there at the rink or field. She also loved harness racing and travelled to PEI several times with the Ratchfords to cheer them on. In recent years, she could be seen at Northside Downs enjoying the races. She also had fond memories of sailing on Dr. Hugh Kirkpatrick’s yacht. Nat always loved driving her car but she never ventured too far from home. She did, however, conquer her fear of flying to attend the beatification of Mother Seton in Rome.
Nat found great joy at Parkview Place where she resided for the past year. She made many new friends who were very good to her ─ taking her on outings and treating her to meals. They introduced her to playing cards and she enjoyed this immensely (even though she never could tell the difference between a club and a spade).
Besides her parents, Billy and Hilda (Cameron) Wilkie, Nat was predeceased by her brothers Gordon, Cameron (Doc) and Lloyd; sisters Kay Larnis, Gertrude, Olive (Ollie) and Yvette (Vet); sister-in-law Anne Wilkie; niece Kathy Larnis; grandniece Carmen Young; grandnephew Nick Young; and great-nephew Davy Reid.
She is survived by her brother Stewart Wilkie, whom she visited every day; sister-in-law Peggy Wilkie; nieces Nancy (Brian) Young and Janet Wilkie; nephews Bob (Susan Napier) Wilkie, Lloyd (Lynn Drake) Wilkie, Trevor (Pauline) Wilkie and Bill (Phyllis) Westberg; and many grand nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation. A celebration of Nat’s life will take place on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, at 2 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Church, North Sydney, with Fr. Patrick O’Neill (a sports adversary) officiating.
Donations may be made to the Carmen Young CBU Nursing Scholarship or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, North Sydney.
Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com.
