Mary Josephine MacNeil

Josephine (Josie) MacNeil, East Bay, beloved sister and aunt, passed away Sunday, November 5, after a brief illness at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Josie was predeceased by her parents, Peter D. MacNeil from East Bay and Margaret (MacKinnon)MacNeil from Grand Mira South, her sister, Mary Isobel, and brothers John Angus and Michael Bradley .She is survived by her brother, Peter Daniel MacNeil, Sydney; sisters, Reyonalda MacDonald and Theresa Axworthy and her brother-in-law Johnnie Axworthy, all of East Bay; and numerous nieces and nephews and their children.

Josie was born in East Bay in 1936 and spent her early years on the MacNeil homestead in rear Big Pond with her grandmother and her beloved Uncle Joe.

She later moved back to East Bay where she lived most of her life across from St. Mary’s Church, lovingly cared for by her sister Mary Isobel and then later by sisters Reyonalda and Theresa, just across the street. Although Josie lived in an era when schools were not equipped to meet her needs, she was an avid student at home, doing her “sums”, practicing her reading on a daily basis, and completing lessons prepared by her sister Theresa. Josie would put her schoolbooks away for the summer and then bring them out again every fall. Reading continued to be important to Josie throughout her life, even in recent years at the MacGillivray Guest Home. She loved her books.

In the comfort of her home, Josie could be counted on to keep the fire going in the big wood stove in the kitchen, put the vegetables on for supper, and wash the dishes. She liked her routine, and when her family gathered each year to celebrate her birthday on July 19th, she only grudgingly allowed them to do the dishes for her.

Josie loved Christmas and always looked forward to Santa’s visit, writing a letter and putting out her stocking. Josie was a devout Catholic and enjoyed Mass for Shut-ins on Sundays and received Communion regularly at home. If you were a member of her family or the East Bay community, she very likely prayed for you at some point in her life.

Josie loved her sweets, though she gave up candy every year for Lent. But when her grand nieces and grand nephews visited her after Sunday Mass, she always gave them a sweet treat. Josie was stoic and had a way of getting right to the heart of a matter. If she had a new doctor, she would ask, “Is he good?”, even right in front of him, and if you asked her any question you were sure to get an honest answer.

Josie liked to listen to her Scottish music, especially Donnie Campbell’s Island Echoes CBC radio show and was pleased when one evening she heard him dedicate a favourite tune to her on the radio.

At MacGillivray Guest Home, Josie liked visits from her family, especially her brother-in-law, Johnnie Axworthy, who could always make her smile.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Mary’s Parish East Bay Cemetery Fund or to the MacGillivray Guest Home where the staff lovingly cared for Josie in recent years. Her family will be forever grateful to them.

Josie lived a quiet but impactful life. She was loved and will be dearly missed. We have no doubt she is in Heaven, enjoying a sweet and a hot cup of tea with Carnation milk, just how she liked it.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, November 13th at 10am at St. Mary's Church in East Bay. Fr. Anthony O'Connor officiating. Burial will take place in St. Mary's Parish Cemetery. To share memories and condolences please visit www.twcurry.com.