Theresa 'Ma' MacNeil

It is with great sadness we the family of Theresa Mac Neil announces her passing on Sunday Feb 5, 2012 at the Mac Gillivray Guest Home (formally of 229 Herbert St, Sydney).

Born in Grand Mira she was the daughter of the late Lucy (Gillis) and Charlie Mac Kinnon. She was predeceased by her late husband Robert (RJ) Mac Neil orginially from Big Beach. Robert and Theresa had 10 children, the majority of who were still at home when Ma became a widow in 1975 because of this Ma went to work helping to raise many neighborhood children as well as her own; she was with the Sawlor family the longest.

At Ma’s house everyone was always welcome and a few more potatoes would be added to the pot so that all could enjoy a bite to eat.

A visit to Ma’s always started with Ma getting her cigarettes and putting the kettle on; followed by a fresh supply of Cinnamon Rolls and Tea Biscuits. Turkey and Tarbish and of course Donnie Campbell’s Celtic Serenade was a Sunday night ritual.

As her family married and left home Ma had a great circle of friends that she played cards with and took little weekend trips. Many the stories were told about these trips and the carry on. Ma had a great sense of humor and with her Scottish brog even when she could not remember her family or her surroundings her sense of humor remained.

Ma is survived by her children, grandchildren and great grand children:

Anne –Kevin Young and their children Amy (Mike Petipas) and Christian

Linda- Bill Irving and their children Patricia, Tracey (Jean Gabriel LaSautour), Amanda and Laura

Charlotte- Rick Fraser and their children Bradley (Kaitie Wild), Brandon (Angie), Andrew (Liz)

Bernadette-Neil Doyle and their children Jeannine (Philip Hartiman) and Callum

Robert 'Bobby' - Leona and their children Robert and Jessie

Cathy- Lorne Norman

Madonna- Jim Bragg and their children Sarah and Melissa

Harold

Gerard-Corrine Cusack and children Brandee and Kristopher

Francis- Tammy and their children Lainie and Lena

Great- grand Children: Mikayla, Lucas, Ben and Ethan Fraser and Henry Hartiman, Wyatt Wilson, Kawner Cusack

Also surviving are brothers Allie (Pauline) and Joe (Linda) Mac Kinnon; sister’s in laws Gerry and Mary (Girlie), Annie T Mac Neil and Rita Mac Namara. Brother in law Malcolm (Frances) Mac Neil.

She was predeceased by sisters and brothers: Kay Hiltz, Jean Fitzpatrick, Jessie Wright, Mammie, Lissie, Mary, Bernard, Lauchie, John, John (in infancy) Mac Kinnon and Phillip Duffy.

In memory of Mom donations would be welcome to Friends of the Mac Gillivray Guest Home c/o Mac Gillivray Guest Home 25 Xavier Dr, Sydney, NS or the charity of your choice.

Visitation for the late Mrs. MacNeil will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, February 7 at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 8 at St. Theresa’s Church, Rev. Jim Oliver officiating.