Halifax, NS
August 27, 1940 – July 27, 2024
Carolyn was born in Sydney N.S. on August 27, 1940, third of ten children of Doug and Alice (McIsaac) MacCormack. In later years she and her siblings enjoyed reminiscing and telling stories about the characters who lived in the neighbourhood around their loving and lively home at 114 Dominion Street in Whitney Pier.
Carolyn was educated in Sydney public schools and graduated from Holy Angels Convent. She worked for a time as a secretary at Sydney’s St. Rita’s Hospital. For four years she was a member of the Order of the Sisters of St. Martha during which time she was on the staff at Little Flower Orphanage and worked part-time on university courses. Later she obtained a Bachelor of Arts from St F.X. University and a Bachelor of Education from Saint Mary’s University ,
In 1970 Carolyn and her sister Donna moved to Halifax where she began a teaching career in the Halifax Public School system. Over the next fifteen years she taught at St. Patrick’s Boys, St Agnes, Oxford St and Westmount Schools. She became a member of the Junior League of Halifax and was co-editor of the League’s monthly magazine.
One evening in late 1971 Carolyn and Donna attended a party at the house on Vernon Street owned jointly by Arthur Donahoe and three of his bachelor lawyer friends. Carolyn and Arthur began dating and a year later, they married at Canadian Martyrs Church in Halifax. They honeymooned in Barbados and embarked on a life together that extended for fifty-one years. She was supportive of Arthur’s political career and canvassed door-to-door on his behalf in all four of his successful provincial election campaigns in Halifax Citadel.
In 1992 Arthur was selected as Secretary - General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and he and Carolyn moved to London England where CPA headquarters is located. Carolyn often travelled with him on working trips to many of the Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures. She worked with officials of local parliaments to organize the program for spouses and partners at annual CPA conferences throughout the Commonwealth.
During their nine years in London Carolyn became a member of the Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club and made many friends there. She was proud of the fact that she obtained a UK Drivers License on her first attempt. She also built on a life-long love of flowers by completing a diploma in flower arranging ,occasionally using her teaching skills to conduct the class when the instructor was unable to attend.
On her return to Halifax in 2002, Carolyn re-joined Ashburn Golf Club, subsequently becoming President of the Ladies Division and served on the Ashburn Board of Directors. She also re-joined the Halifax YMCA and resumed regular participation in fitness classes.
Carolyn was a generous contributor to the Religious of the Sacred Heart at Halifax in support of their educational and missionary work in Kenya and Uganda. She was a devout Catholic and longtime parishioner and frequent Minister of the Word at Saint Agnes Church in Halifax.
Carolyn died peacefully having lived for many years with Alzheimer's Disease.
She was predeceased by her parents, her sister and best friend Donna Mitchell (Ken) and her cousin and good friend Peggy McLaine (Donald).
She is survived by her husband Arthur Donahoe, sisters Mary Fitzpatrick (Frank) and Elizabeth Gillis (Bob) and her MacCormack brothers Jim (Dell); Doug (Barbara); Ray (Anne Marie); Wilf (late Coleen); Allan (Shirley); Wendell (Lani) and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4pm to 7pm at Snow’s Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive on Wednesday August 7, 2023. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Saint Agnes Church, 6903 Mumford Rd. Halifax on Thursday August 8, 2024 at 10:00am, Father Owen Connolly presiding.
A reception will follow in the Church Hall. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.
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