Avitus Magdalene Cameron

Born in North Sydney on July 22, 1930, Avitus (MacLellan) Cameron was the youngest and last surviving member of the immediate family of Alexander (Cass) MacLellan and Christina (MacNeil) MacLellan. Avitus was predeceased by brothers Stanley and Duncan (Eleanor), and sisters Mary Margaret MacNeil (Hector) and Cecilia Daye (Luke).

In her younger years, Avitus enjoyed swimming and suntanning at Indian Beach in North Sydney. She would also entertain her nieces and nephews at the piano playing her favourite songs, I Left my Heart in San Francisco and Moon River. She could be found at the dances at the Seaview Golf Club and this is where she met her future husband, Stuart Cameron (predeceased, 1981).

Prior to her marriage to Stu, Avitus worked as the Manager of the Catalog Department of Simpson Sears for years. A strikingly beautiful woman, you might have seen her modelling clothes for Irving Schwartz’s store in Sydney, Jacobson’s Ladies Wear.

Upon moving to Coxheath, she became very active in Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Parish. Her faith was very important to her and she volunteered at sewing altar cloths and banners, and was active with the Catholic Women’s League, helping to prepare meals at weddings and other events at the church. She was often called the “Gravy Lady” because no one did it better. She was also an expert at sewing and knitting.

While Avitus made her roots in Sydney River, she still returned to North Sydney and the family home regularly, with at least weekly visits to get her “hair done”, get groceries and breakfast, of course, with sisters Cecilia and Mary Margaret at the Zellers restaurant. Her nieces and nephews could always count on some great laughs, special treats and getting picked up at school for lunch in her cool sports cars, which she loved.

Avitus could not turn an eye to any animal in need. Her Pekingese dog, Chang Toi, was her pride and joy. She would later find herself living with 5 lucky cats over the years not to mention the dogs in her neighbourhood who were regular visitors for treats. And even the ducks and the crows in her back yard all benefitted from her love of all animals.

While she had no children of her own, she had many in her nieces and nephews, some who looked upon her as our second mother. Her door was always open for a visit and a cup of tea and a sweet. When she wasn’t making us laugh, she was listening with interest and providing sound advice and encouraging words. Her home was often a refuge to those of us who needed it at just the right time in our lives.

Special thanks to her niece, Veronica Gillis and her family, who took on the giant task of primary caregiver for Avitus as she struggled with dementia in her later years and to the staff at the MacGillivray Guest Home, who were kind and caring to her in her last days.

Please feel free to support Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Parish, the MacGillivray Guest Home or any animal shelter in her memory. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, May 6th, 1pm, at Our Lady of Fatima Church with Fr. Conrad Edwards officiating. Interment will take place in Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks. . To share memories and condolences please visit www.twcurry.com.