Felix Smith

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather - Felix Smith, of Wagmatcook First Nation. Felix passed peacefully on November 29th, 2025, at the Victoria County Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family.

He was born on January 23rd, 1957, to the late Virginia Isadore. Felix lived the way he wanted — loud, full of love and laughter, and poured his heart into the life, the people, and the moments he cherished most.

From a young age, Felix was a hard worker. He started odd jobs at just 13, became a pulp cutter at 18, later worked as a fish farmer, and eventually as an alcohol and drug worker for NADACA. Felix never shied away from work— he valued it, took pride in it, and always gave his best.

Felix’s proudest career was his service with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He joined the RCMP in 1981 as a Special Constable, retrained to become a regular RCMP Constable in 1989 and retired after 20 years of service. He was one of the original seven members of the RCMP Option 3(B) Program, an initiative that recruited Indigenous members to police their own communities and paved the way for Indigenous RCMP officers across the country. Felix’s role in it remains a point of pride for both his family and his community. During his service, Felix formed lifelong bonds with the officers he worked beside, who became like brothers to him. He carried that pride for the rest of his life, serving with patience and compassion.

After his RCMP years, Felix worked briefly at the Wagmatcook Gas Bar and later spent time doing river clean-up work, which he greatly enjoyed. He spent one year trying retirement—touring Cape Breton with the love of his life, his soulmate, Lucy. He often joked that during that year, they ate in every restaurant on the island.

Retirement, however, proved too quiet for him. He returned to work at the Wagmatcook Health Centre, where he worked in maintenance (and, as he liked to joke, was “the doctor on Tuesdays”). He spent 15 years there and genuinely enjoyed it. He often called his co-workers his second family, and he cherished the time he spent with them.

Felix was known by many as kind and gentle, always seeing the best in people. He loved the simple pleasures in life, fly fishing, hunting, morning and evening drives, and gardening. Some of his happiest moments, though, came from riding his lawn mower. He called everyone “buddy,” and people who met him loved him almost instantly. Loud in the best way—you could hear him before you saw him—but beneath that big personality was a warm, soft heart that made everyone feel welcome and safe.

Above all else, Felix’s heart belonged to Lucy. He loved her with everything he had. They met when they were just 13 and 14 and married 5 years later on June 25th, 1976. Every day was full of little moments— coffee in the morning, wildflowers from the yard, drives together, and their morning card game to see who was the “boss” of the day. Their love set the gold standard— deep, constant and completely their own.

Family was everything to Felix. He was the best father and papa, a man whose pride and joy was always his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His love for them was boundless; his face always lit up when he spoke of his family, and he carried that love with him every day.

Felix is survived by his devoted wife and soulmate Lucy Smith; his children Felix Jr (Joyce), Colin (Connie), Carrie, Brenda (Francis) of Wagmatcook, and chosen son Jamie Bernard (Carolee) of We’koqma’q.

He will also be deeply missed by siblings Rubena Joy (Kevin) of South Carolina, Mary Catherine Pierro (late Benedict) of Wagmatcook, George Isadore (Veronica) of Membertou, Jackie Robertson of Quebec, Joan Martin of Ottawa; his brothers-in-law Bill Keigan (Rachel) and Tommy Keigan (Emily) of Sydney Mines, Jerry Keigan (late Brenda), David Keigan and Leonard Keigan of Ontario; his sisters-in-law Jeanie Keigan of North Sydney and Cathy Leamon (Scott) of Sydney Mines.

His grandchildren Darian (Gavin), Sunnie, Alannah, Kailee, Starr-Ann, Skye, Karly, Felix III (Hayley), Jolita (Richard), Monica Rose, Charlie, Keagh and Liam; his 17 great-grandchildren; several godchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Felix was predeceased by his mother, Virginia Isadore; grandparents Michael and Nancy Isadore; siblings William “Billiam”, Tony and Dennis I.; his brothers-in-law Ernie, Benedict and Dennis K.; sisters-in-law Dorthy, Marie, Edie, Lilly and Edna; chosen daughter Elaine Rose and grandson Hunter.

Felix will be profoundly missed by all who knew him. He touched the lives of so many with his humour, his gentleness, his loud laugh, and his warm spirit. His legacy will live on through the people who loved him, the community he served, and the countless memories he leaves behind.

Visitation will be held at the Elder's Centre in Wagmatcook starting at 7pm on Monday, December 8th and continuing until the Mass which will take place at 11am on Wednesday, December 10th at Queen of the World Church, Wagmatcook. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family by visiting twcurry.com.

The family would like to sincerely thank the Cape Breton Cancer Centre, Inverness Hospital and staff, Dr. Ritter and his team, and the Victoria County Memorial Hospital staff for their care and support. An extra special thank you to Dr. Jean MacLachlan and the nursing staff of the Wagmatcook Health Centre.