We mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Heather Kennedy-MacNeill, a devoted lifelong activist and fiercely loving partner, daughter, sister, mother and friend. Heather passed away on February 8th, surrounded by family and friends far and wide.
Heather was born in Toronto in 1950, the eldest of Dorothy and Alan MacNeill’s three much-loved daughters. Heather’s parents imparted a strong network of friendships and a love of the outdoors, both of which became integral to her own life. Lifelong friendships were founded in her neighbourhood and at summer camp, and time spent at Muskoka nurtured a love of canoeing that she would continue over her life.
Heather started university at Trent, but after two years left to fight for peace, women’s rights, and social justice as part of the “radical” social movement of the 60s and 70s. In 1973, Heather moved out west to Vancouver with friends and she soon became active in union organizing at the University of British Columbia. With many others, she leafletted, organized meetings, and held rallies, the end result of which was a union contract that, among other things, granted the first ever-paid maternity leave benefits in Canada.
Heather’s love of the outdoors and desire to conquer a fear of bears and cougars led her to Vancouver Island and an outdoor leadership program at Strathcona Park Lodge. Her network of friends then led her to the Comox Valley where she began a family. For many years, Heather was the single mother of daughters Sarah, Sophie, and Emma. During that, time she worked at the newly formed Women’s Centre, and then went to UBC to finish her undergraduate degree and Master’s in Social Work. At UBC she built up a community of friends and extended family, providing her daughters with a childhood that was rich in love and adventure. Her activism was steeped in everything that she did, including her parenting, and her kids came with her to both peace marches and her thesis defense.
Heather returned to the Comox Valley that she loved after finishing her Master’s degree, and soon met the love of her life, Murray Kennedy. Both committed to social justice and their communities, together they merged and built a deeper network of friends between Courtenay and Powell River.
As a social worker, Heather worked for Mental Health and Addictions Services, where her compassion and energy made her a committed counsellor and advocate for her clients. Retiring in 2010, Heather devoted herself more fully to volunteer work: to teaching Voluntary Simplicity, to her community within the Comox Valley Unitarian Fellowship, and to her many other interests, including starting up piano lessons after many years. Travel included adventures abroad to Turkey, Italy, and Mexico, and trips to visit her daughter and grandchildren in New Zealand. It also included many trips back to Ontario to visit life-long friends and to spend time at the cottage with her mom, sisters, and their families.
Heather is remembered by her husband Murray Kennedy-MacNeill, her three daughters Sarah Noakes (Stephen), Sophie MacNeill, and Emma MacNeill (Neil), her grandchildren Ezra and Eleanor “Nori” Noakes, and grandpuppy “Lou”.
She is predeceased by her father Alan MacNeill, and survived by her mother, Dorothy “Dodie” MacNeill, her sisters Dorothy “Dorsey” MacNeill and Sally Langstroth, niece and nephew Megan and Jamie Nicholls, and many, many friends.
A Celebration of Life for Heather Kennedy-MacNeill will be held virtually on Saturday, February 27, 1:00pm PST using Zoom. Hosted by the Comox Valley Unitarian Fellowship - for access information, please email [email protected].
To honour Heather speak up for social justice with compassion, and connect with a loved one.
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