Hilda Viola Wilkie

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our mother, Hilda Viola Wilkie at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital on July 4, 2025 after a brief illness. Viola was born in Neil’s Harbour to parents Andrew and Edna Susan (Petrie) Fricker, and was the eldest of 7 children.

While working at the Keltic Lodge, she met the love of her life, Jim Wilkie. Their connection was immediate and lasting. They married and began building a life together in Sugar Loaf, where their two sons were born.

Later, the family relocated to Leitches Creek for Jim’s work, but kept their home in Sugar Loaf and returned often, spending summers, weekends, and holidays surrounded by family and the lifelong friends who made the community so special.

Viola had a deep love for fiddle music and found joy in singing with the St. Columba Church choir. She loved life and cherished her family deeply. Throughout her life, she faced many challenges, but met each one with quiet determination and grace.

Viola will forever be grateful for the love and support of her sisters Wilma and Mildred and special cousins Marilyn, Margie and Eileen.

Viola is survived by her sisters Wilma (Stewart) Best and Mildred Fricker, sons Ken (Donna) and David (Ursula), grandchildren Shaena, Breagha (Brent), Jenna (Jeff) and Chad (Makayla), great grandchildren Brielle, Brynlee, Sienna and Lettie, sisters-in-law Silvia Fitzgerald, Wanda MacKinnon, Elsie Hartling and many nieces and nephews.

Viola is predeceased by her beloved husband of 49 years James (Jim) Wilkie, brothers Sanford, Raymond, Theoradore and sister Annie.

A service will take place at the Aspy Bay United Church on Saturday, July 12 at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow at the church hall in Cape North. There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada or charity of choice. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family by visiting fillmoreandwhitman.com.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Woodford and the staff at the Buchanan Memorial Hospital, the 4A Unit at CBRH, and to the staff and visitors at Highland Manor, where Viola was cared for with compassion and kindness. She truly enjoyed living there over the past four years, and your support meant so much to her and to all of us.