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Sydney Forks, NS January 4, 1951 - July 14, 2024 It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Christine Dianne MacMullin on Sunday July 14, 2024, in Hospice Cape Breton. Born January 4, 1951, in Glace Bay, she was a daughter of the late Fraser and Matilda (Lloyd) MacQueen. Dianne grew up in Donkin. She graduated from the last 3 year nursing program offered at the Sydney City Hospital. She worked at this hospital, the Northside Guest Home, and MacGillivray Guest Home throughout her career as an RN. She loved traveling with the love of her life Mickey and spending time with her precious family. She also enjoyed baking, playing the accordion, singing, canoeing, swimming, biking, walking, skating, and taking lots of photos. Dianne is survived by her husband, Michael “Mickey”; daughter, Jennifer MacMullin (Jon MacDonald), Ft. McMurray; son, Michael, Sydney Forks; granddaughter, Emma; sister, Irene MacQueen, Ont.; and brothers, Wayne (Linda), Glace Bay; Ian, Dartmouth; and Dave (Philomena Matthews), Donkin. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Jeanette MacDonald. Visitation will take place in Sydney Memorial Chapel on Thursday July 18, 2024, from 4-7 p.m. Funeral service will be held in the chapel on Friday July 19, at 11 am with Pastor Rob Jones officiating. Interment will take place in Alfred Smith Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Hospice Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton County or the Alzheimer Society.

Pomquet, NS July 10, 2024 The family of Marie Eleanor Broussard of Pomquet, Antigonish County, are very saddened to announce her passing on July 10, 2024, in the Palliative Care Unit of St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish. Born in Pomquet, she was a daughter of the late Eloi and Mary Broussard. Marie worked for Wong’s Restaurant in Antigonish at a very early age.  She then met the love of her life, Simon, and they married in June of 1959, and together they raised their four children.  She was a very devoted mom, grandma, and great grandma.  Later, she worked at the Snow Queen Restaurant on James Street, Antigonish, for many years.  A great cook and baker, Marie was welcoming in every way, and she always made sure her guests were well fed. She is survived by her children, Mary (Curtis) Myette, Fall River; Edmund (Marthis), Scarborough; Christina (Kevin) MacKay, Pomquet; and Pauline (David) Mason, Brookfield; grandchildren, Alysia Myette (Shaughn), Toronto; Katie (Matt) Savary, Lantz; Danielle Broussard (Jordan), Windsor, ON; and Corey Broussard (Samantha), Windsor, ON; great grandchildren, Quinn, Bentley, and Kyron Gledhill, Faith and Hunter Broussard, and Damien and Maryjane Savary; brothers, James, Sudbury, ON; Louis (Mildred), Pomquet; Tom (Evelyn), Pomquet; Alex, Lower South River; Arthur (Lorraine), Pomquet; and Johnny, Pugwash; sister, Margaret (Francis) Brow, Pomquet; sisters-in-law, Julie and Isabel Broussard; and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her husband, Simon; brothers, Joe, Clarence, and Frank; sister, Hattie; and sister-in-law, Carol. Cremation has taken place.  Visitation will be held Friday from 4 to 8pm in C.L. Curry Funeral Home, 135 College Street, Antigonish.  Funeral Mass will be held Saturday at 11:00am with Reverend Dennis Lamey presiding.  Burial in the parish cemetery. In Memoriam, donations to St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Foundation (Palliative Care Unit) appreciated. The family of "Sweet Marie" would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of the Progressive Care and Palliative Care Units of St. Martha’s Hospital for the wonderful care.

Millville, NS August 23, 1957 - July 13, 2024 It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Van Allen “Nayland” MacAskill, 66, of Millville, on Saturday, July 13, 2024, after a short but courageous battle with cancer. Nayland was the son of the late Kenneth & Jannie (Butts) MacAskill.  He was a vintage model born August 23, 1957. Nayland had a very strong work ethic throughout his career as a sheet metal worker and welder.  The skills of his trade provided him with opportunity to work and experience the culture in such places as North West Territories, Nunavut, and many other places across the country before settling to work closer to home prior to his retirement.  Nayland took pride in his work and providing for his family was very important to him. In his spare time he enjoyed tinkering in the garage, pushing boards through the sawmill, cruising on the motorcycle with Debby on the back or just sitting on the back deck soaking it all in and feeling blessed for where he lived and for everyone that was a part of his life.  He had a great sense of humor and boy did he love to torment - he could equally lend a lot of great, although sometimes “questionable” advice. Nayland was a devoted and loving husband to his wife Debby (Bonnar) of nearly 49 years.  He was a very caring and exceptionally proud Dad to his daughter, Nicole (Jason) Kaylie and his son, Denton (Raven).  He will be deeply missed by brothers Roddie, Murray (Jeanette), Paul (Jocelyn), Glenn and Terry (Corinna); and by sisters Corrine (Heckie) Stubbert, Melinda (Jackie) Mark, and Carrie (Tom Bond). He is also survived by brothers-in-law Richard Ahle and Bill Bonar, special friend Florence Fraser, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents he was predeceased by his brother, Danny and sisters, Mary Ahle, Sylvia Edmunds and Wanda; sisters-in-law Dawn MacAskill & Margie MacAskill.  He was also predeceased by his in-laws Farrell & Mary Bonnar, brothers-in-law, Lorne Edmunds, Wayne and Johnny Bonnar, and sisters-in-law Linda and Donna. Special thanks to Dr. D’Intino for her extraordinary care and comforting words along with the entire staff at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Palliative Care Ana Cala Unit and Hospice Cape Breton. Cremation has taken place.  Visitation for Nayland will be held from 6-9 pm on Friday, July 19th, in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant Street, North Sydney.  Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 20th at St. James-Knox Presbyterian Church, Big Bras d’Or with Rev. Peter MacDonald officiating.  All are welcome to join the family for a reception at the Millville Community Center following the service. In lieu of flowers donations are welcome in his memory to our local Cancer Treatment Center at cbrhfoundation.ca OR Hospice Cape Breton at https://hospicecapebreton.org/. “Rest easy, Nayland – love you forever, Debby”

Glace Bay, NS July 9, 2024 Curry, Charmayne Marie, age 86, of Glace Bay passed away on July 9, 2024, in Glace Bay Hospital. Born in Glace Bay, she was a daughter of the late Charles Leo and Mary Elizabeth (McLaughlin) Curry. Charmayne was a schoolteacher, teaching business-related courses, including Business English, Bookkeeping, and typing (she could type 120 words per minute!).  She enjoyed golf, her weekly bridge club, and traveling down south with her teaching colleagues. She had been an active member of the teachers association. Charmayne conducted herself in life with grace, kindness, and good humour.  She was a pillar of the Curry family, maintaining the traditional family home with an open-door policy for all of her family, whom she loved hosting.  She took special interest in her nieces, nephews, and their families, always keeping up on their news and achievements and always cheering them on. She is survived by her sisters, Eileen, Glace Bay; and Rosemary (Nick) Czifrik, Salem, N.H.; brothers, Arthur (Anne), Antigonish; Joe (late Sandra), New Waterford; and Ernie (Elizabeth), Antigonish; sister-in-law, Joanne Curry, Antigonish; brothers-in-law, Ed (Ginger) Murphy, Sydney; and Kevin Peach, Glace Bay; and many nieces and nephews who all adored her. She was predeceased her sisters, Sr. Marilyn Curry, CSM, Teresa Murphy, and Florence Peach; brothers, Dr. Bill (Cathy), Francis Gerard (Cecilia), Michael (Jean), Frank, Chuck, and John in infancy; nephew, Bill Curry; and niece, Janice Peach. Visitation will be held Sunday from 7 to 9pm in St. Anne’s Church, 695 Main Street, Glace Bay, from where funeral Mass will be held on Monday at 10:00am, with Fr. MacLeen Anyenwu Ejiogu presiding.  Burial in the parish cemetery. In Memoriam, donations to St. Anne’s Roof Replacement Campaign appreciated. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home, Antigonish.

Dartmouth, NS April 5, 1934 - July 9, 2024 Ann (MacDonald) Dockrill, 90, of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, passed away on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, surrounded by family at the Dartmouth General Hospital following a brief illness. She was born in Johnstown, New York, on April 5, 1934, to the late Cyrene and Marion (Smith) MacDonald. She spent her childhood on Prince Edward Island, first in Mount Stewart, before her family settled in Georgetown. On finishing her schooling, she moved to Halifax for work. After her marriage, she moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba. The family returned to Halifax a few years later and eventually moved to Dartmouth, where Ann made her home, raised her five children and remained for 62 years. Ann worked at the Dartmouth Regional Library for 25 years before retiring in 1999. She graduated from Saint Mary’s University with her Bachelor of Arts in 1979. In her later years, Ann enjoyed being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, baking chocolate chip cookies, gardening and attending exercise classes. She returned to Georgetown as often as she could and found time to see the world, travelling to England, Scotland and Australia. She dedicated much of her life to helping others, especially through her volunteer work at Saint Paul Catholic Church in Dartmouth, where she was a devoted parishioner for six decades. Ann is survived by her children Mary Ahern (Martin), Peter Dockrill (Cathy), Don Dockrill, Paul Dockrill and Cathy Morash (Harold); her grandchildren Alex, Margaret, Kevin, Claire, Luke, Caitlin, Liam, Isaac, Aidan and Hannah; and her great-grandchildren Carter and Emilia. She was predeceased by her brother Alec and her former husband Fred. A funeral service will be held at Saint Peter Church, 10 Maple Street, Dartmouth on Thursday, July 18 at 2 p.m. followed by a reception. There will also be a mass at St. James Church in Georgetown on Saturday, July 20 at 10 a.m. where Ann will be laid to rest next to her beloved parents and brother. Ann’s family would like to thank the EHS paramedics and the staff at the Dartmouth General Hospital Emergency Department who cared for her in her final days, Father Nathanael DesRoches of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Halifax and Maria Mariotti, a dear friend and neighbour. Ann lived an exemplary life of charity and service. Her loving and generous spirit will always be remembered by everyone who knew her.

New Glasgow, NS July 13, 2024 It is with great sadness that we, the family of Edna Laffin, announce her passing surrounded by loved ones on July 13, 2024, in the Palliative Care Unit of the Aberdeen Hospital after a brief battle with cancer. Edna was born in Eastville Col. Co., daughter of the late Dougal and Sarah Reid, and adopted daughter of the late John H. and Carrie Archibald of Hopewell. Edna grew up in Hopewell and attended Stellarton High School. Edna was actively involved in volunteer work for many years, including Pictou County Helpline. Family was important to her as was evident in her love for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and extended family. She loved to read, write poetry and short stories and go for long drives in the country. She was a former employee of Valley View Villa, Riverton. Edna is survived by daughters: Joan Cameron (Gerry) Trenton; Ann-Marie Ross (Brad), Lower Sackville; Bernadette Morrison (Kenny), Pictou; Karen Greencorn (Charles), New Glasgow; son, Kim Cameron (Maureen), Stellarton; step-sons: Bruce and David Laffin; eleven grandchildren, twenty-six great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; sister, Nancy Mydean (Kamal), Truro and brother, Neil Reid (Joyce), Fox Brook. Edna is also survived by her dear friends: Marg Casey, Barb Purvis, Lalia Long, Marion Johnson, Betty Young and Bonnie Logan. Edna was predeceased by her sisters: Laura Blois (Archie), Elladie Taylor, Edna G. Archibald, Pearl Williams, Carol Carr and Betsy Daniel; brothers: Parker Reid (Linda), George Reid (Joan), Delmar Reid, Alvin Archibald and Billy Reid; first husband, Elmer Cameron; second husband, George Laffin; grandsons: Justin Green and Rob Canning; step-grandson, Matthew Ross; great-granddaughter, Lyla Fraser; and son-in-law, Ron Ross. Visitation will take place Tuesday, July 16 from 6-8pm, at R.H. Porter Funeral Home, 55 Almont Ave., New Glasgow, with funeral service Wednesday July 17 at 11am, at the Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Christ the King Cemetery. Reception to follow at First Presbyterian Church, Hopewell. Donations may be made to Palliative Care Unit c/o Aberdeen Health Foundation or a charity of your choice.

Kentville, NS July 12, 2024 William "Simon" Dargie – 73, of Kentville, formerly of New Minas, passed away on Friday, July 12, 2024 in the QEII-Victoria General Site, Halifax. Born in Round Hill, Annapolis Co., he was the only child of the late Arthur and Rose (Momberquet) Dargie. Prior to retirement, Simon was an accountant for a number of local businesses including Remy Stocker Construction, Cecil Lockhart Construction and Bill Wade Grocery. Simon is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Liz Dargie (nee Niccole); sister-in-law, Mary Blois; nieces and nephew, Michele (Laurie) Harding, Lesley (Ken) Borden and Kevin (Carrie) Nichols; his adored fur babies, Lily May, Charlie Brown and Billy Bob; several great-nieces and nephews, extended family and dear friends. Cremation has taken place. In keeping with Simon’s wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral service. Donations in memory may be made to the Kings County SPCA. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.

Antigonish, NS July 10, 2024 Pelley, Brittany Ann, age 30, formerly of Antigonish, passed away in the Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Truro on July 10, 2024. Born in Antigonish, she was the daughter of Brian and Rita (Delorey) Pelley. Brittany enjoyed early years with her loving family, but due to severe illness relocated to Truro with her final years at Osborne House where she was well loved and cared for. Brittany touched the hearts of all who knew her. Besides her parents, she is survived by brothers, Joey and Bryan; sister Tanya Pelley, all of Antigonish; grandmother, Vera Pelley, Antigonish and many aunts, uncles and cousins Predeceased by maternal grandparents, Joseph and Beatrice Delorey and paternal grandfather, Joseph Pelley. Visitation will be in C.L. Curry Funeral Home, 135 College Street, Antigonish on Wednesday, July 17th from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm.  Funeral Mass will be held in St. Ninian Cathedral on Thursday, July 18th  at 11:00 am with Reverend Donald MacGillivray presiding. Burial in the parish cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff at Colchester Residential Services, the Palliative Care Team at Colchester East Hants Health Centre and the staff at Fox Ranch where Brittany spent her earliest years.

Truro, NS July 13, 2024 Verna Grace (MacKenzie) Purdy – 92, Truro, entered the presence of her Heavenly Saviour on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at East Cumberland Lodge, Pugwash. Verna was raised in Harmony, and after high school she attended Success Business College in Truro; upon graduation she worked at Bentley’s Department Store until she married in 1952. Verna and her husband, Gerry, were married in Truro and during their short time together raised four children. Gerry lost his brief battle with cancer in 1964 in Peterborough, Ontario. Verna moved back to Truro shortly thereafter with her young family and worked tirelessly raising the children on her own. In 1969 Verna was hired as the secretary at First Baptist Church in Truro where she spent 40 years. She proudly trained several ministers over her 40 years, retiring in 2010. Anyone who knew her would agree she spent her entire life doing for others. In 2019 Verna moved to Munro Court in Truro where she spent four years. She enjoyed her time there knitting, reading and spending time with her new friends. In October 2023 Verna moved to East Cumberland Lodge in Pugwash, where she lived out the last nine months. The family would like to thank the staff at Munro Court, VON staff and East Cumberland Lodge for looking after mom so well during the last five years of her life. Verna was predeceased by her parents, Bert and Bertha (Lynds) MacKenzie and her husband, Gerald. Verna is survived by her four children, Chris (John) Heartz, Brookfield; David Purdy (Roseanne Armitage), South Carolina; Diane (Don) Timmons, Kenaston, Saskatchewan; Michele (Don) Meech, Truro; sisters, Bea Tilsley (Cunningham), Lake Ainslie; Jennie Whalen, Truro; brother, Ronald (Maxine) MacKenzie, Prince George, British Columbia; grandchildren, Melissa (Brad) Taylor, Hillary (Bobby) Baden, Brett Meech, Blake Meech, Dylan AP (Kyle) Hillebrand; great grandchildren, Kirsten, Brooklyn, Madison, Harrison Taylor, Joshua, Noah, Elijah; several nieces and nephews. At Verna’s request a private family graveside service will be held at a later date in Harmony Cemetery. If so desired, donations in Verna’s memory to Canadian Bible Society are welcomed. Arrangements have been entrusted to Mattatall – Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro.

Yarmouth, NS August 29, 1942 - July 14, 2024 William “Bill” James Tower – age 81, of Yarmouth, passed away on July 14, 2024, in Yarmouth Regional Hospital. Born in Halifax County on August 29, 1942, he was the son of the late Adelbert and Florence (Stevens) Tower. Bill was a lifelong teacher and taught at South Centennial School, Yarmouth Junior High School, and Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School. From 1974 until 1994, Bill was a principal at Carleton Elementary School until retirement. After being retired for one day, Bill went to work for H.D McLeod Travel and Maritime Marlin Travel until 2011. Bill held many other community positions, including Community Concerts, the library board, and the Chebogue Cemetery Committee. He was also very active in the Lions Club and The YARC. Bill is survived by his loving wife Helen (McLean) and his sister Betty (Edward) Paquette in Victoria, B.C. Cremation has taken place under the care of Sweeny’s Funeral Home and Crematorium in Yarmouth. A visitation will be held Saturday, July 20, 2024, from 2-4 P.M. in Sweeny’s Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will take place at a later date in Chebogue Cemetery. Donations in memory may be made to the Chebogue Cemetery or a charity of your choice.

Halifax, NS September 13, 1945 - June 29, 2024 Picture it. New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, September 9, 1945 (said in the voice of another small but mighty spitfire-of-a-woman, Sophia Petrillo, from The Golden Girls). World War II had finally ended. Twenty-nine-year-old nurse Roberta MacDonald, nine months pregnant with her first child, arrived at the hospital for an x-ray (yes, an x-ray!) and was admitted to give birth. She endured a long and brutal labor that almost killed her. She would later share that she should have had a C-section, but the doctor was busy elsewhere performing an amputation, so that window of opportunity opened and closed! Four days later, on September 13, 1945, at 2pm, Helen Anne MacDonald was pulled out with forceps (“that big MacDonald head!”), weighing in at 6 pounds, 7 ounces. Small but mighty right from the start, she would be known as Anne (with an “e”), even though she spent the rest of her life, especially her final year, telling people repeatedly that she was NOT Helen! Her father James, a farmer, was managing a farm in Wickham, New Brunswick at the time of her birth, so was not present. Over a month later, Roberta traveled by train and ferry with her sister Priscilla, to Wickham to be reunited with her husband and introduce him to his daughter. Anne’s father saw her for the first time in the moonlight. Two years later, the family farmhouse in Sylvester burned to the ground, so James, Roberta and Anne returned home to Nova Scotia. James and Roberta built a small farmhouse on top of the old cellar of the house that burnt. It was on this 150-acre “mixed farm” where Anne grew up. Although the farm made very little money, she never felt like her family was poor. There was always food on the table (her mother was an amazing cook and baker) and lots of extended family lived nearby. When she was four, the teacher of the one room school in Sylvester reached out to Anne’s parents to ask if they would consider sending her to school a year early. A girl named Irene MacPhail was going to be the only one in Primary and the teacher thought it would be good for her to have a companion. So began Anne’s school career. She would walk to and from school, which was a mile away, on what was then the main road between Pictou and New Glasgow. Cars and big trucks whizzing by. No sidewalks except a narrow patch of dirt between the road and the ditch! The only time she can recall getting a drive was when her mother picked her up from school in a tractor because there was a runaway horse in the area! By the time Anne was just 11, she was already in grade 7, having been put ahead another year in school because she was so bright. It was at this tender age that she was faced with a decision that would ultimately change her life forever. Since the one room school she attended only went to grade 7, Anne had to decide where she would go to finish out her schooling: New Glasgow or Stellarton Junior High. For Anne, the decision was an easy one. Every summer, her family took her to watch baseball games in Stellarton. The Stellarton Albions’ roster was packed with young, virile American college boys! In Anne’s eyes, they were the next best thing to Elvis. Stellarton Junior High it would be! Irene McPhail, mentioned before and Anne’s classmate at the one-room school, followed her to Stellarton too. When Irene was in grade 10, she started dating a boy named Pete Marcott. And Pete just happened to have a best friend named Brady Copeland. The rest, as they say, is history. Anne was part of the second-ever graduating class of the newly-opened West Pictou District High in 1964. She graduated at the ripe old age of 16 and went on to complete a two-year program at the Nova Scotia Teachers College in Truro. By the time she was 18, Anne was teaching at a two-room school in Alma, grades 4 to 7, barely older (and definitely shorter!) than some of her students. One of Anne’s proudest accomplishments was eventually obtaining her Bachelor of Arts, Major in English and Minor in Sociology, and a Bachelor of Education from Saint Francis Xavier University in 1995, while also still teaching full time. Truth be told, we suspect she did this just to get the coveted “X ring”, which she wore proudly for the rest of her life. Married in July 1965, Anne and Brady had three daughters, Leah, Kelly and Christena. Anne’s happiest years were raising her daughters. Those years were filled with lots of extracurricular activities (swimming, singing, piano, skating lessons), family trips to England, Scotland, Germany, Florida, Bermuda, and more. But the best memories are the ones she created for her family in the less obvious, quieter moments. Warm milk in Santa mugs on Christmas Eve. Breakfast every morning and drives with her to school. Sloppy Joes. Lying in her bed watching The Thorn Birds. Fighting over who would sit next to her in the front seat of the car. Lazy cake. Sneaking up to watch Dallas on a Friday night. Family walks to the apple tree. Bedtime stories. Cheese sauce on toast. Planting flowers in the spring. Christmas Log. Playing fairies on the front lawn as she and our dad sipped coffee on woven plastic lawn chairs on the front step. Welcoming friends and boyfriends and eventually husbands into our home. Board games and cards at the kitchen table. Birthdays and homemade cakes and presents that always made you feel so special and loved. Anne retired from teaching in 2001 and this was also the same year that she started a new life and adventure in Halifax. Although recollections may vary, it was also on or around this time that Anne met the true love of her life, a younger man by the name of John Francis Bongiovi Jr. You might know him by his “professional” name - Jon Bon Jovi. Anne would go on to attend eight of her boyfriend’s concerts in total over the years, starting in 2010! Always young at heart, Anne would also attend concerts by the Rolling Stones (three times), Rod Stewart (twice), Bryan Adams (four times), Anne Murray (twice), Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, U2, Dixie Chicks, k.d. Lang, Leonard Cohen, Celine Dion, Sara Brightman and Def Leppard. She never rested on her laurels. Always interested and interesting, she never stopped learning, growing and traveling, whether it was signing up for the latest SCANS class (Seniors’ College Association of Nova Scotia), jumping on a plane to visit her brother Kenny in Nashville or to Japan to visit her cousin, Deb or jetting off with her friend Sandra to tour Italy, Switzerland, France and England. Anne didn’t think she was special or extraordinary. She always said that her own mother was “nicer than me.” She was so wrong. She thought of herself as shy, but her presence was big. Her opinions were strong but not rigid. Her chatter was exuberant and never-ending, but she was still the most interested in you, what was going on in your life, what your story was, where you came from, how you were doing. Her mother told her that if she wanted to be liked by people, she should ask them questions about themselves instead of talking about herself. “If you want to be thought of as a brilliant conversationalist, let the other person do most of the talking,” her mother advised. It was something Anne took to heart, even during the last year of her life, when she was so sick and at her worst. She loved getting to know those who were caring for her, forever asking the nurses, doctors, and cleaning staff questions about their lives outside of the hospital. “Everyone has a story,” she would say. She loved Coronation Street, Britbox, CBC News, the laughable drama of David Muir on ABC World News Tonight, the gals on The View (although “Whoopi can be a bit much”), Live with Kelly & Mark (and of course DVR’ing them was a must, so she could fast forward the commercials!). She loved her coffee and peanut butter on English muffins in the morning, sitting at her kitchen counter in her pj’s with the Chronicle Herald and the daily crossword puzzle. She loved playing Words with Friends with her cousin Deborah in Japan (“even though I almost always lose!”). She loved an invitation to supper. She loved candy cane ice cream. She loved lipstick. “Never go anywhere without your lipstick!” her mother told her. And so she never did - not to the mailroom in her apartment lobby and not to get a CT scan at the hospital, even when she could no longer get out of bed. She loved turkey dinner and all the fixings (and this was the set menu for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter and God help you if you ever suggested otherwise - not that anyone would!). She loved getting comments on her Facebook posts. She loved her iPad and iPhone - her lifelines to the outside world and her instruments of choice for sending the longest, most detailed-oriented, most rambling texts ever (oh, what we wouldn’t give to receive one of her never-ending text threads right now). She loved hanging out with her three grandsons (even though she initially proclaimed she didn’t know what to do with boys, after raising three girls, she stepped up so beautifully). And of course, she loved spending time with her daughters. Novelist Toni Morrison once said, “When your child walks into the room, do your eyes light up?” This was one of the greatest gifts Anne gave her daughters. Her joyful face was the first thing we always saw, whether it was returning home for the weekend from university, coming through the sliding glass doors at the airport, walking into her apartment or even her hospital room at the end. We always felt like the most loved, most cherished, most valued, and like the most important person in any room our mother was in. Our mother’s love changed our lives and allowed us to spread our wings, always knowing we had a safe place to return to and land. She was always the first person we called when we had good news or bad. And she was always there without question or hesitation. Strong and unselfish. Quirky and steadfast. Sarcastic and sweet. Irreplaceable. Home was always where our mother was: The house on the hill in Sylvester. Walter Havel or Washmill Lake Drive. Room 113, 84 or 100 at the VG. Anne is survived by her daughters Leah (Rory), Kelly (Ian), and Christena (Kurt); grandsons Brady and Connor Gibson and Finley Thompson; former spouse and forever family, Brady (Kathy) Copeland; brother Doug (Liz) MacDonald, and the many children she looked after in Halifax following her retirement, who also called her “Nanna”: Taylor, Jorja, Dawson, Kingston, Ginger, Olivia, Lauren, Jack, Rachel, Jenna, Erin, Charlie, Lauren, and Joseph. She was predeceased by her parents, James and Roberta (Archibald) MacDonald and brother, Kenny (Elmer) MacDonald. Celebration of life to take place on October 19, 2:00pm at Snow’s Funeral Home on Lacewood Drive, Halifax. To the staff on 8A of the Victoria General Hospital, you have our undying gratitude and love for the care you provided for our mother in the last year of her life, as she so courageously and valiantly fought Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. We want to especially thank our mother’s own angel on Earth, Jeffrey Bautista, for always going above and beyond, making our mother feel seen, and for making her laugh during the worst situations and circumstances; Kat and Brittany, for the tough love and for never giving up on her; Otis and Prince; and to Paula, who saw us through the final, hardest night of our lives with such professionalism, skill, and grace. Mommy, we know you’ll be busy getting caught up with Grammie and Grampa and being dragged along on new, crazy adventures with Kenny (because he can never sit still!), but we hope you’ll find time to show us you’re still out there and still looking out for us. We’ll be watching for those lights to come on - and any sign you decide to send us. We’ll spend the rest of our lives missing you and trying to figure out how to do this life without you. You were the best mother. When we feel like crying, we’ll hear your words in our head, “Might as well laugh as cry!” ;-) Until we meet again. We love you, Mommy.

Chéticamp, NS May 11, 1932 - July 12, 2024 It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Clifford Alexander Roberts at the age of 92, at the Foyer Père Fiset in Chéticamp, Nova Scotia, on July 12, 2024. Clifford is survived by his loving wife Betty (MacLeod), his two children Darrell (Tamara) and Kathy (Wilf), and his four grandchildren Craig, Bhreagh, Meagan and Niccola. Clifford is also survived by his brother Willie, his twin brother Clarence and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Born in Baddeck on May 11, 1932, Clifford was predeceased by his parents Thomas and Annie (MacInnis) Roberts, brothers Morris and Daniel, sisters Marion Warnholtz, Betty Skinner, sister-in-law Ann Roberts, brother-in-law Reuben Skinner, niece Leslie Roberts and grandson Andrew Goodine. Clifford was born and lived on the Shore Road in Baddeck, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He worked as a lineman with the Nova Scotia Power Corporation for almost 40 years. Clifford loved every nook and cranny of Cape Breton. And what a storyteller he was! Upon his return home from work, he would often spin a tale about the place he had been or characters he had met that day. In his early years, Clifford was an avid Citizen Band Radio operator. This passion led to lifelong friendships and many days of family fun, travelling to attend CB radio jamborees. Clifford loved the outdoors. Most days, he would go for a long walk in the hills behind the house. He also enjoyed camping. Starting with basic tents and progressing to well-appointed trailers, the family spent many summers exploring Canada and the US. He was an accomplished photographer who captured striking images of his family and of the landscapes and wildlife of Nova Scotia. These are now cherished memories. Clifford had a passion for knitting that began at an early age. During the Second World War, his mother taught him and Clarence to knit washcloths; these were sent overseas for the soldiers. His skills improved over the years. He knit countless socks, mittens and stocking hats. Then beautiful sweaters and blankets. And eventually, elaborate projects including a striking sweater with 46 miniature cats! Clifford creatively designed his own patterns, including a coat sweater with a helicopter for a special friend who was a pilot. Because there were never enough hours in the day, Clifford had a special set of needles with lighted tips that allowed him to knit well into the night. Clifford always had a project in the works ... often electrical in nature. And he was always happy to help someone in need. When he put something together, he was adamant that it should last for a lifetime. Family, friends and newcomers were always warmly welcomed to the Roberts residence on the Shore Road; advance notice was not required. Clifford filled those visits with engaging stories, historical references, heartfelt laughter and impossible quizzes requesting identification of antique items hanging on the back porch walls. Goodbyes tended to be long and drawn-out but with a warm send off. Clifford was a conservationist. He limited use of the car and gasoline, turned the lights out early at night, and accumulated a basement full of, as well as backyard sheds brimming with, parts to use for potential future repairs. Clifford also loved animals ... there was always a cat or two perched on his lap. For many years, his loving and faithful little white Abby was always by his side. This love of pets was passed on to his children and grandchildren over the decades. Clifford will be missed by all who loved and knew him. The family wishes to express their appreciation and gratitude to Dr. A. Maillet, Dr. M. Chaisson, Dr. R. Genge, and the wonderful staff at Foyer Père Fiset. In accordance with Clifford's wishes, a cremation has taken place, and the Celebration of Life will be held at Greenwood United Church on Tuesday, July 16 at 2 pm, with a reception to follow at the Inverary Inn. Interment in Greenwood United Church Cemetery, Baddeck. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Baddeck Improvement Association - Kidston Restoration Project, the Baddeck & Area Cat Rescue, or another charity of your choice.