Cape Breton Deaths September 28, 2010 Tuesday There are 6 obituaries published for today. Lorne MacDonald Earl Sweeney Daniel MacLeod William 'Bill' Skanes James 'Ronnie' Corbett Barbara MacRitchie ******************************************************************************************************* Lorne MacDonald Born in: Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away in: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada Passed away on: 25/09/2010 Passed away Sept. 25, 2010, at York Central Hospital, Richmond Hill, Ont., at the age of 67. Born in Glace Bay, he was the son of the late Donald John 'Western Dan' and Ruth (MacLennan) MacDonald. He was the loving father of Kim, Sheri, Ed and Jeff and adoring grandfather of 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is survived by sisters, Marilyn Bajur, Scarborough, Ont., Gwen Turner (Lester), Mira Gut, Valda Cook, Mira Gut and brothers, Fred (Patricia), Agincourt, Ont., Edwin, Glace Bay, David (Iowna), Fredericton Junction, N.B., Roger (Sandra), Mira Gut, Donald, (Hazel), Whitby, Ont., Ian (Donna), Omemee, Ont and Gary (Liz), Barrie, Ont.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his beloved wife, Ruby and sisters, Katherine Diane (infancy) and Athalie Claire MacDonald. Cremation has taken place and a service will be held in Markham, Ont. Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, with burial for Lorne and Ruby at a later date in Cape Breton. ************************************************ Earl Sweeney Born in: New Waterford, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away in: Ontario, Canada Passed away on: 25/09/2010 After a lengthy illness Earl Francis Sweeney passed away at Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, Ont. Born in New Waterford, Nova Scotia, he was the son of the late Earl and Margaret (Hines) Sweeney, New Victoria. Earl moved to Ontario 1968 where he worked at the Ontario Science Centre retiring in 2009. Will be missed by his partner, Colin Mears; his sons, Brett (Michelle), St. Catharines, Ont., Trevor (Melinda), Ottawa; grandchildren, Taylor, Tegan and Nathan; his sisters, Anne (Grant) Stevenson, Dieppe, N.B., Bernice (late Hank) Martin, New Waterford and his brother, Joe (late Jeannine), Toronto. Resting at the Paul O'Connor Funeral Services, Scarborough, Ont. *********************************************** Daniel MacLeod Born in: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away in: Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away on: 26/09/2010 It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Doug MacLeod on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010, at the Cove Guest Home. Born in North Sydney, he was the son of the late 'Tinker' Dan and Janet MacLeod. Doug is survived by his wife of 58 years, Norma (MacLeod) MacLeod; his four sons, Dougie Malcolm (Jackaleen), Andrew Ross (Roberta), Peter Laughlin and Daniel Bruce; his three granddaughters, Sophia, Bronte and Taylor. He is also survived by his two sisters, Betty MacIntosh and Mary Smith. Cremation has taken place. There will be a family service at a later date. Online condolences may be sent to our webpage at www.chantfuneralhome.com. ************************************************** William 'Bill' Skanes Born in: Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away in: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Passed away on: 24/09/2010 Passed away suddenly Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, at the age of 67, with the love of his family in his heart. Predeceased by his parents, Patrick William and Grace (Rutherford) Skanes. Loving dad to Becky Skanes (Carl) and Patrick (Carrie). Proud Big Papa to Meagan, Daniel, Alexandra, Andrew and Breanna and a granddaughter to be. Brother to Linda (David Nash), Winnie (Norm Thornley), Sue Ennis (Gary) and Laura McDonald. Family and friends will be received at the G.H. Hogle Funeral Home, Wignall Chapel, 62 Long Branch Ave., Toronto, on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010, from 11 a.m. until a time of service in the chapel at 12 p.m. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Diabetes Association would be greatly appreciated. E-mail condolences may be left at www.hogle.ca. ************************************************** James 'Ronnie' Corbett Born in: Havre Boucher, Antigonish Co., Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away in: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away on: 26/09/2010 James Ronald 'Ronnie' Corbett, 86 of Halifax, formerly of Port Hawkesbury, passed away on Sept. 26, 2010 at the Veterans' Memorial Hospital after a long illness. Born in Havre Boucher, Antigonish Co. N.S., he was the son of the late Edward M. and Isabel (Gillis) Corbett. Although never a fisherman, his life revolved around ships and the sea. A Second World War Naval Veteran of the Battle of the North Atlantic, he served briefly on HMCS Niobe and then more than three years on the Flower Class Corvette, HMCS Bittersweet. While on HMCS Bittersweet, he made 18 round trips across the North Atlantic with the Convoys. He worked just after the war on the ferry (Scotia), which ran between the Mainland and Cape Breton. With the opening of the Canso Causeway, he joined the Public Service of Canada at Canso Lock and was always proud to point out that it could handle much larger ships than the Seaway. He served at the 'Causeway' for 44 years. Ronnie was honoured with a lifetime membership at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 43, Port Hawkesbury. His involvement with the legion through the years was very important to him. His signature trait was the empathy he showed his comrades and to all who passed through his life...as he liked to say, a true small "L" liberal. Ronnie was first and foremost a loving family man and will be sorely missed by everyone. He was famous throughout his community for his whistling, singing (Yellow Bird), walking, good humour and razor sharp Irish wit, which he loved to exercise at coffee club. He loved to stay in touch with people from all the neighbourhoods he lived in. Very well read, he loved to quote poetry from his very early school days. He was a student of the political scene and human nature and always enjoyed a good political discussion, always ready with a comeback. A lifelong Montreal Canadiens fan, he loved to torment anyone who wasn't. He is survived by his loyal loving, supportive wife, soul mate and dance partner of 62 years, Agnes (Chisholm); sons, Patrick, Halifax and Roderick (Lynn), Edmonton; daughter, Claudine Corbett (Jose) Lourenco, Edmonton; grandchildren, Keith (Shayleen) Sampson, Calgary, Jacquelyn (David) Cyr, Toronto, Melissa Corbett (Michael) Robinson, Spry Bay N.S., Jose Lourenco, Toronto, James Lourenco, Toronto, Michaela (Adam) Wier, Halifax; great-grandchildren, Declan and Rylan Sampson, Calgary, Eric Robinson, Spry Bay and Ewan Cyr, Toronto. He was predeceased by his firstborn daughter, Ronalda. As the last surviving member of his family, he was predeceased by brother, John and sisters, Emily Ryan, Hazel Power, Imelda Fougere, Kaye Sparks, Ernesta Bezanson and two infant siblings. Thanks are extended to all the nieces, nephews and friends who spent so much time with Ronnie during his illness. Thanks also go to the caring nurses and LPNs at V5 West Garrison, Camp Hill Hospital who gave him so much comfort during this difficult time. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. with a vigil service at 7 p.m. and a legion service 7:30 p.m. all in the Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury. Funeral mass will be held in St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, 10 a.m. with Fr. Andrew Boyd officiating. The family wishes to thank John Langley at Haverstock's. Family flowers only, please. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at www.haverstocks.com. Ronnie wanted this remembrance for the comrades left behind, who were never far from his thoughts. "Sailors Prayer: On all the oceans, the white caps flow They have no crosses row on row But they who sleep beneath the sea Sleep in peace for our countries free (We will remember them)." ************************************************ Barbara MacRitchie Born in: Blue Mills, Inverness Co., Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away in: Weston, Ontario, Canada Passed away on: 25/09/2010 Barbara Christine MacRitchie, 81, Weston, Ont., passed away in the Humber Memorial Hospital, Toronto, Ont., on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010. She was born in Blues Mills, Inverness County, a daughter of the late Angus and Mary Jessie (Ferguson) Morrison. Barbara is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Norman MacRitchie, Weston, Ont. Barbara was a loving aunt to her nieces and nephews and to her grandnieces and grandnephews. For many years she worked in the Boston area returning home to Blues Mills each summer. After she was married she worked in the Humber Memorial Hospital and then at the Ontario Motor Vehicle Branch until her retirement. She is also survived by two sisters, Annie (Gordon) Cann, Sidney, B.C., and Evelyn Williams, Halifax, N.S. She was predeceased by brothers, Alex, John, Donald and George and sister, Miriam. Visitation will be 6-9 p.m., Wednesday in Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Whycocomagh. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday in Stewart United Church with the Rev. Donna Tourneur and the Rev. Gordon Cann officiating. Burial in Stewartdale Cemetery following the service. Memorial donations in memory of Barbara may be made to the Stewartdale Cemetery or a charity of your choice. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at www.haverstocks.com. ******************************************************************************************************* Cape Breton Deaths courtesy of CBGHA http://www.cbgha.org