Penn (Penelope) MacKinnon

Penn MacKinnon passed away peacefully in her 99th year on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, after a brief illness. Penn (Penelope) Margaret MacKay, born on March 16, 1913, in North Highlands, Cape Mabou, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, one of ten children. She was the daughter of Allen John and Margaret (Maggie) MacKay. Penn married Archibald (Archie F.) Forbes MacKinnon in Strath Lorne, Cape Breton, on November 2, 1933.

Penn was predeceased by Archie and her eldest son Callum (Maureen). She is survived by sons Alan, Donald (Betty), Grant (Suzanne), and Brent; grandchildren Sean, Neil, Kim, Robert, Scott, Andrew and Meghan and six great grand children.

Penn and Archie raised their family in Sudbury, Ontario, where they were well known and highly respected members of the Cape Breton cultural community. They loved music, poetry, dancing, Gaelic events and hosting gatherings for family and friends. Penn was an active member of the United Church in Sudbury and in Aurora, with over 80 years’ membership in the United Church Women (UCW). She worked at the Sudbury Memorial Hospital as a ward clerk for many years. In 1996, she moved to Aurora, Ontario, to live with her son Brent and his family.

Penn will be greatly missed by her extended family, her friends from Aurora United Church, her close friends in Sudbury, Windsor and Aurora, and her many relatives and friends living in Cape Breton, western Canada and the United States.

A visitation will be held at Aurora United Church, 15186 Yonge St., Aurora, on Thursday, June 9, from 7 to 9 pm. A funeral service will be held at the church at 2:00 PM on Friday, June 10. An interment service will be held in Sudbury at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations in Penn’s name to the Aurora United Church will be greatly appreciated.