Catherine Anne Harris

With great sadness, the family of Catherine Anne Harris announces her passing on Saturday, January 4th, 2025 at the MacGillivray Guest Home, with family by her side.

The eldest daughter of the late Effie and Malcolm MacKinnon of Northside East Bay, Cathy became a dear mother, sister, and grandmother, and a loving wife to Guy, her devoted husband of 57 years.

Mom greeted everyone who visited her home with a cup of hot tea, or coffee, if you preferred. A natural caregiver and host, she welcomed family and friends for countless meals and was known for her exceptional cooking and baking skills. She loved listening to Celtic music and beamed with pride when recounting stories of dancing with her grandchildren. Mom also took pleasure in tending to her many varieties of flowers and would patiently preserve and catalog them for future crafting activities.

Cathy graduated from the Nova Scotia Teachers College in 1966 and was proud to start working in her home community of Northside East Bay, where she taught grades primary to six at one of the last one-room schools in Cape Breton County. After some time teaching in Portage and Eskasoni, she focused her caring nature on building her family and volunteering in the community, as a Brownie leader, and as secretary for the Sydney Forks - East Bay Community Council. A particular passion for Cathy was Saint Mary’s Parish in East Bay, where she was a Religious Education teacher, a Eucharistic Minister, and an active, long-time member of the Catholic Women’s League.

Though Alzheimer’s disease presented many challenges to Mom, we admired her ability to maintain her gentle and sweet nature until the very end. We will miss making her laugh, and her smile that would light up the room.

Cathy is survived by her loving husband Guy; daughters Anne (Derek), Colleen, and Jeanette (Jason); daughter-in-law Katrina; grandchildren Lauren and Andrew, Sophie and Madeleine, and Lauchie and Conall; siblings Betty (the late Kenny), Malcolm, June (Doug), Isabel (Alvin), Jim (Elise), Mary (Mike); several nieces and nephews; and special nephew and niece-in-law, Stewart and Trudy.

Besides her parents, Cathy was predeceased by her son Christopher, and her sister Rose Anne.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Jeanne Ferguson for her exceptional care and guidance; Heather Clarke, her private caregiver for two years; the nurses, CCAs, and all of the staff at the MacGillivray Guest Home who provided excellent care during the last thirteen months. We will also be forever grateful for the generosity of our wonderful friends and neighbours, who have provided food, snow clearing, and ongoing support during Cathy’s illness.

There will be no visitation. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00am, Saturday, January 11th at Saint Mary’s Parish, East Bay, with Fr. Anthony O'Connor officiating. A reception will follow at the East Bay Fire Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Saint Mary’s Cemetery Fund, East Bay.

Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.twcurry.com.