Inverness Oran Deaths courtesy of CAPE BRETON GENEALOGY & HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE - <http://www.cbgen.org/ <http://www.cbgen.org/>>www.cbgen.org <http://www.cbgen.org/> NEW MEMBERS WELCOM Inverness Oran Obits November 02, 2016 Wednesday There were 4 obituaries published today NEAR, RONALD G. “POP” - 90 YRS MACKINNON (MCDONALD), MARGARET “JEANETTE” - 77 YRS POIRIER, WILFRED B. - 75 YRS GILLIS (O'NEILL), LILLIAN “RUTH” - 79 YRS NEAR Ronald (Pop) G. Near of Margaree Centre, age 90, passed away peacefully at home on October 28th, 2016, surrounded by his family. He was born in St. Mary’s, ON, on May 3rd, 1926. He was the son of the late Casper and Mary (Morris) Near. “Ron” was the last surviving sibling of 15. Ronald joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1943. He served as a gunner on merchant ships until the end of the war when he was discharged, rejoining the Royal Canadian Navy in 1951 and serving in several posts on the East coast, including Shearwater, Nova Scotia, until retiring with 25 years service in 1971. During retirement Ron worked as an entrepreneur and was an avid sports enthusiast and a devoted Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Besides his parents and siblings, he was predeceased by his infant daughter Cynthia. Ronald is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Lucille (Leppard) Near; his sons Ronald (Peggy), Yellowknife and Randall, Margaree Centre; and daughter Cindy (Jeffery) Hart, Margaree Centre. He will be missed greatly by his grandchildren Brandy (Mike), Wade (Eve), Mandy, Mark (Laura), Lindsey (Jan-Michael), and Logan (Melissa) and by his great grandchildren Kylie, Daniel, Claire, Ares, Avery, Alexis, Rylea, Ainslea, Oliver, and Lucy. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service was held at Wilson United Church on October 31st with Reverend Alicia Cox officiating. Burial will take place at a later date. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Sunset Funeral Home, Margaree Valley. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Inverness Palliative Care or the Canadian Cancer Society. Online condolences: sunsetfuneralco.op@gmail.com <mailto:sunsetfuneralco.op@gmail.com>.“A heart of gold stopped beating, hard working hands now rest, god broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best.” This quote is very fitting for Ronald Near. As the 13th child in a family of 15, Ron has always been a family man. Leaving home to join the Navy and serving as a gunner on merchant ships during World War II, at the end of the war Ronald came home to marry the love of his life, Lucille. Ron and Lucy were married and very much in love for 72 years. The past few years Ron had taken on the role as primary caregiver to his bride. Ron and Lucy married on and were blessed with four children: two sons, Randy and Ronald, and two daughters, Lucinda “Cindy” and a daughter, Cynthia, who passed in infancy. Ron rejoined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1951 and travelled all over the world. He was stationed at many posts along the East Coast of Canada. When Ron retired from the Navy in 1971. He moved his family to Melford, Nova Scotia, where he upholstered furniture in his own shop for many years. Ron was immensely proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. MacKINNON MacKinnon, Margaret “Jeanette”, age 77, passed away in Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital on October 28th, 2016, with family by her side. Born in New York City on July 25th, 1939, she was a daughter of the late John Neil McDonald and Margaret Julia (Coady) McDonald. Jeanette is survived by her children, Margaret (Steven) LeBlanc of Lasalle, Ontario; Martin (Norma) MacKinnon of Inverness; Deidre, Oshawa, Ontario; and Bryce, Scotsville, Nova Scotia; sister Connie (late Tom) Barlow of Lake Ainslie; brother Peter (Margaret) of Nestleton, Ontario; and sister-in-law, Betty MacKinnon (John) of Scotsville. She is also survived by her grandchildren Emily, Joel, Brandon, Avery, Neil, Kathryn, and many nieces and nephews. Jeanette was a loving mother and grandmother. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her family and loved nothing more than a family gathering with all her loved ones. A graduate of Saint Francis Xavier University in 1965, Jeanette taught primarily in Inverness Consolidated School where she was a guidance counsellor. Jeanette was a member of Saint Joseph’s Parish in Southwest Margaree and was a lector and a member of the parish choir. Jeanette was also actively involved in Kinettes and for a time served as the Inverness Figure Skating Club president. Her love of learning stayed with her into retirement where she enjoyed reading and taking piano lessons. Her resiliency, bravery, strength, and positive outlook on life is something her family and friends will cherish forever. Jeanette was predeceased by her husband, Freddie and her parents, John Neil and Margaret McDonald. Visitation was held in Inverness Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 1st. Funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, November 2nd, in Saint Joseph’s Parish Church, Southwest Margaree with Rev. Father Everett MacDow officiating. Burial will take place in the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Central Inverness Palliative Care Society or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made to www.invernessfuneralhome.com. POIRIER Wilfred B. Poirier, age 75, of 401 Mountain Road, Plateau, died on October 27th, 2016, in Sacred Heart Community Health Centre, Cheticamp. He was a son of the late Bennie and Marie (Deveau) Poirier. Wilfred was a hard-working woodsman and a jack of all trades. He would help anyone that needed a hand. He loved hunting and snaring rabbits. He is survived by his wife Lina Poirier; son Derek Poirier (Kathleen); daughter Anita Poirier; brother Arthur Poirier (Mary Jeanne); sisters Lucy Anne Camus and Rose Yvonne Bonnelle; grandchild Derica Poirier. He was predeceased by brothers Placide Poirier, Henry Poirier, Paul Poirier, and Auguste Poirier and sisters Julie Anne Larade and Zabeth Camus. The body was cremated. Funeral Mass was held on Monday, October 31st, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Peter’s Church, Cheticamp. Burial in the parish cemetery. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Cheticamp Funeral Services Ltd. Condolences may be sent to cheticampfuneral@ns.aliantzinc.ca <mailto:cheticampfuneral@ns.aliantzinc.ca>. GILLIS Lillian “Ruth” Gillis, 79, of Aberdeen, Cape Breton, NS, passed away peacefully at home in her sleep on October 22nd, 2016. Ruth fought a long, brave battle with Alzheimer’s disease. No funeral service as per Ruth’s request. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date in 2017. Cremation has taken place and has been handled by Chant’s Funeral Home Sydney. Ruth was born in Sydney on February 7th, 1937. She was a graduate of the NS Sanatorium Nursing School in Kentville, NS, in 1963 and held her nurses license for 16 years. She was a successful Amway Distributor for years and also fulfilled a childhood dream of being a makeup artist. She was certified colours consultant for Artistry makeup by Amway. Her most fulfilling job was being a stay at home mom. Ruth was married to Allan Gillis on July 19th,1963; they were married 50 years. Ruth and Allan sponsored many children through World Vision. She was an advocate for hurt and abused animals and a strong voice for those who needed one. Ruth also enjoyed knitting for the wee preemie babies and donated many knitted hats and sweaters through a program by Shopper’s Drug Mart. Ruth was game to try her hand at anything. She was also a “shero” to her daughter Diane. Ruth is survived by her siblings, twin brother Joseph, Joyce (Redmond) O’Neill, Mary and Ed Theriault, Joan Richardson, Margaret and Edward Mroz; sister-in-law, Marie O’Neill; her beloved daughter Diane Gillis; and Diane’s life- partner Bryn Eve Smith; and other family and friends. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years Allan Gillis; a son, Christopher J. Gillis in 1998; grandson Sean; brother William “Bill” O’Neill; brother-in-law Robert “Bob” Richardson; her parents William and Elizabeth (Healey) O’Neill; and her friend and travelling buddy Evelyn Smith. Both Ruth and Evelyn lived out there days travelling the roads and trails of CB with their daughters. Havin’ a time! In lieu of flowers donations may be given to CB Palliative Care Service, Red Cross, or the Alzheimer’s Society. We ask that you light a candle for Ruth and sing her favourite song, Irish Eyes are smiling; her favourite song to sing. God bless us all.