Mama was born in Inverness, September 25, 1939, and passed away on January 8, 2026, at the Taigh na Mara nursing home in Glace Bay. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and the many communities she was part of. The daughter of George and Elizabeth Copley, she grew up in a busy house in the Red Rows. She developed an early love of sports playing baseball under the expert eye of her father. Her lifelong love of the beach began there, along with her fondness for listening to local music and watching sports, especially her Habs and Red Sox.
In her late teens, she met the love of her life, Angus, and went to the first of many dances. He must have been a good lead as after they married in 1958, she moved with him first to Ontario and then back to Port Hood where their children Donnie, George, Louise and Sarah were born. Angus built them a house in Troy and Mama made it a home, welcoming everyone with open hospitality. A devout Catholic, she was a frequent Eucharistic Minister and Lector, and a member of the CWL.
While her life and happiness revolved around her family, she also held a number of jobs outside her home. She had especially fond memories of her time at The Skye Motel where she made many of her lifelong friends and worked to improve the working conditions of her colleagues.
As we grew up and followed our own paths, she and Angus provided unconditional love and support. Later they were able to have more time together to travel and enjoy beach days in Port Hood and Florida, race days in Inverness, and dances all around Inverness County, often with visiting children and grandchildren.
After our father passed in 1998, Mama continued to travel, as far afield as Australia and Hawaii, spending time with family, and hosting visitors every summer. She loved watching her grandchildren grow up and fostered a strong connection to Cape Breton in all of them. Her walls were covered in family photos, and she followed all of their accomplishments with pride.
Later, she moved back to Inverness and enjoyed spending more time with her brothers and their families. In 2025, with Louise’s help, she moved once more, to Taigh na Mara nursing home in Glace Bay, where she was lovingly cared for by their wonderful staff.
Throughout her life, she built strong friendships and communities through work, volunteer activity and the Church, and through just being there to help out neighbours, and those in need of wise advice, a pie, or emergency childcare.
Mama was a great storyteller, and many evenings were spent around the table often over a card game, telling jokes, teasing, and laughing with her family and friends. We’ll miss her stories, her laughter, her advice, her fair-mindedness, her sharp wit, and her informed commentary on world events and local politics. She was a lady of formidable strength and determination, showing us all how to meet life’s challenges with grace. Mama was predeceased by her beloved husband, Angus, her father, George Copley; mother, Elizabeth Copley (Russell); sisters, Georgina Copley, Kaye Reid (Bill), Caroline Walker (Jordy), Jean Walker (Alexander); brother Russell, sister-in-law, Edith Copley.
She is survived by children Donnie (Margy) in Victoria, BC, George (Marjorie) in Sherwood Park, AB, Louise MacDougall (Lorne) in Sydney, NS, and Sarah MacLellan (Lennie) in Newton, Mass; grandchildren Brenden MacMillan (David MacLeod), and Cassie (Kody) DesRoches, William Hall (Jill), Isaac Hall (Jenna Khoury-Hanna), Donald MacLellan, Michael MacLellan (Annie Greene), John Angus MacLellan; brothers, Edward Copley (Marie), George Copley Jr., James Copley (Anne); sister-in-law Trudy Copley, and many very special nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A Wake will be held Thursday, January 15, from 3:00p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Inverness Funeral Home and the Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 am on Friday, January 16, at Stella Maris Church in Inverness.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Inverness Hospice Palliative Care. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Taigh na Mara.
Online condolences may be made
to: www.invernessfuneralhome.com
