Edna was predeceased by her loving husband, Frank; sister, Kay MacMaster; brothers, Donald, Charlie, Ronnie, Ervin, James; and son, William in infancy.
She is survived by her brother, Wayne.
She leaves behind sons, Bryan, Randy, and Derek; beloved daughter-in-law, Judi; cherished grandchildren, Kristen and Keenan; and great grandchildren, Elsie and Colin.
After graduating from high school, Mom worked for a couple of years at “Matties” drugstore on Central Avenue before moving to Halifax for school and work. While working for Prudential Life in Halifax she met Dad at an “Old Time” Cape Breton dance. They would happily spend the next 67 years together.
After marriage Mom and Dad returned to her beloved Inverness to raise a family. After we boys were all in school, she took some part time work at the J & H Diner (where we loved dropping in for a 10-cent cone of fries or a sundae) and later went back into the Insurance business working for Simon P Lefort (Whom she held in the highest regard) and Jim Johnson for over 20 years before retiring in 1999.
Edna, Big Joe, Donald, Allan California. Oh, how she proudly announced her family “handle” when someone asked. Family was of the utmost importance and Mom took a great deal of pride digging into her uncle’s (Father A.D. Macdonald) genealogy, “Mabou Pioneers” to trace our family genealogy and connections to other families. She was also so proud of her beloved mother, Elsie and loved making the journey to Tancook Island to keep in touch with her mom’s family.
Mom was a person of great faith; she believed in the power of prayer and was a devout member of Stella Maris Parish. Mom had a spirited, competitive nature which was the perfect foil for Dad’s more easy-going, laid-back manner. Along with Dad, Mom loved travelling with her boys on their Ball, Hockey, and other sporting endeavors to towns all around the province.
Mom had many passions, softball player (How proud she was of playing with her Rookies ball team), softball coach, golf (especially family outings to the Margaree Valley Golf Club), daily read of the Chronicle Herald (followed by completing the 4 puzzles), curling, bowling (which she continued into her 80’s by travelling to Antigonish!), her flowers and excursions with Elsie to get plant slips to root, making chow and mustard pickles, skating, shopping trips with beloved sister Kay (whose passing left a hole in Mom’s heart), family dinners and get togethers, a good game of catch, a fishing excursion to Colindale, a good square set, Nintendo with her grandchildren, bingo with Mary and Janet Poirier, gameshows, a trip across the street to enjoy tea and one of Alexina’s delicious rolls or oatcakes, or a visit with brother Wayne of whom she adored. As Kristen once wrote on her Mother’s Day card, “To the grandma who does it all!”
Mom loved nothing better than to sit and reminisce about the past and all the good times in her beloved “Red Rows”. Mom’s passing will leave an emptiness in our hearts and our history. Hopefully we can remember and retell her stories so that her spirit lives on.
We would like to thank Mom’s care givers through the years for the valued care they provided, particularly Dr. Pillai, Dr. Bhreagh MacDougall and Mary Anderson of whom she thought the world.
Visitation will take place in Inverness Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 8th, 2025, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM with Funeral Mass to follow on Wednesday July 9th at 11:00 AM at Stella Marish Church, Inverness.
Burial to follow in the parish cemetery.
If you wish donations may be made to Stella Maris Parish Cemetery Fund or a charity of your choice in Edna’s name.
Online condolences may be made to: www.invernessfuneralhome.com
