Cape Breton Deaths December 11, 2008 Thursday Pearl Irene MacKay Delaney Sydney - It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Pearl Irene MacKay Delaney on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, at Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Marble Mountain, Inverness County, she was the daughter of the late Albert David and Margaret (Ransom) Cloake. She lived on Reeves Street, Sydney, and for the past month she was a resident of Harbourstone Enhanced Care. In earlier years she was a longtime resident of Victoria Road, Sydney, and Wood Avenue, New Waterford. Pearl was a homemaker. She was a wonderful baker and enjoyed knitting, crocheting and enjoyed playing cards, especially 45s. She loved her daily drives in her car, shopping and meeting with friends. Her independence was very important to her. She is survived by a daughter, Debbie, Alberta; a son, Bill (Terry), Sydney; sister, Rose Mason, New Waterford; seven grandchildren, Dana, Gina, Linda, Brenda, Mark, Brent, Terena and 11 great-grandchildren. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her first husband, George Shaw MacKay, her second husband, Leo Delaney, a daughter, Margie Clancey, two sisters, Theresa McLellan, Margaret Font and three brothers, Basil, Terrance and Art Cooke. Visitation for Pearl will take place Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008, from 2-5 p.m. at McLellan Brothers Funeral Home, 3183 Plummer Ave., New Waterford, N.S. 862-7500. A funeral mass to celebrate Pearl's life will take place Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, at 11 a.m. with Fr. Doug MacDonald officiating. Interment will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery. Donations in Pearl's memory can be made to Palliative Care. To send online condolences to the family go to www.mclellanfuneralhome.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Raymond William 'Gino' Bennett 42, New Waterford - Raymond Bennett, 42, of Union Street, New Waterford, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney. Born in New Waterford he is the son of Raymond and Marcella (Gittens) Bennett, New Waterford. Ray was a member of the Salvation Army Citadel, New Waterford. He was employed as a cook at Peking restaurant in Sydney and most recently as a supervisor with KFC in New Waterford. He also worked for CEIP with Angus Gillis at the New Waterford Resource Centre. Ray's favourite pastime was working on cars, especially his own pride and joy, a 1987 Grand Prix. Surviving are his wife, Angel Hurley-Bennett, whom he deeply cherished; daughter, Nikita Wareham, son, Raymond Wareham, both of New Waterford; stepson, Justin, at home; brother, Eldon (Kelly), Fredericton, N.B.; sisters, Bertha (Brad) Bennett, New Waterford, Nicole (Glen) Bennett, Glace Bay; mother-in-law, Margaret Hurley, New Waterford. Ray was predeceased by maternal grandparents, Arsene and William Gittens and paternal grandparents, Eddy and Edith Bennett as well as several nieces and nephews. There will be no visitation. Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith St., New Waterford. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 at the Salvation Army Citadel, New Waterford, with Captains Cyrillic and Eliza Keats officiating. Interment will follow in Union Grove Cemetery, Scotchtown. Donations in his memory may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lucy MacNeil 90, Sydney - Mary Louise MacNeil of 44 Thomas St., Sydney, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2008. Born in Castle Bay, she was the daughter of the late Neil R. and Catherine (Dunn) MacDonald. She was a member of St. Anthony Daniel parish. Lucy was famous for her tea biscuits and her knitting and will be missed by her multi-generational friends. She is survived by daughter, Liz (Frank) Brophy of Wallingford, Connecticut, Dolena (Bernie) LeBlanc, Westmount; Kay (Gary) Globe of Sydney; Alonzo (Wendy) of Herring Cove; Rannie (Betty) and Kevin (Joyce), both of Sydney; 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and special nephew, Johnnie MacNeil. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was predeceased by her husband, Donald John 'D.J.'; her twin sons, Mickey and Neil and her grandson, Jamie; sisters, Mary, Agnes and Minnie and brothers Neil, Archie, John and Rannie. Visitation for the late Lucy MacNeil will take place on Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 from 6 - 9 p.m. at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Anthony Church with Rev. Donald MacGillivary officiating. Interment in Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks. Donations may be made to the Mass For Shut-ins. Online condolences may be sent to twcurryparkviewchapel@ns.sympatico.ca. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Frederick Roy Pledge 71, Sydney - Well-known businessman Freddie Pledge passed away suddenly Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney. Born in Sydney in 1937, Fred was the son of Jessie (MacLeod) Pledge and Frederick Roy Pledge Sr. He is survived by his four children, Brenda (Ron Habets), Ottawa, Carolyn (Frank Amaral), Bermuda, Patricia (Derek Dickson), Ottawa, and Roy, Ottawa; and eight grandchildren, Chris and Michael Habets, Coleman, Ellen and Leah Amaral, Sarah, Brent and Jana Pledge-Dickson. He is also survived by his sisters, Isabel MacLean, Dryden, Ont., Erma Ball, Sydney, and Rebecca Cummings, Halifax. He was predeceased by his brother, John and sister, Phyllis Meade. Freddie was the owner of Pledge's Construction Ltd., a prominent and successful heavy equipment operation. Recently semi-retired, Freddie enjoyed gardening and investing in the stock market. Kind and generous to all, he will be missed in the business community and by his many friends on the island. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Sydney Memorial Chapel, where visitation will take place Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008, from 7-9 p.m. A service to celebrate Freddie's life will be held at the Salvation Army Citadel on Inglis Street, Sydney, Friday at 1 p.m. with a reception to follow. Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army or to a charity of choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ James 'Jim' Robert Gates - With utmost dignity, Jim passed away Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, at the St. Boniface Hospital, at the age of 84 years. Remaining to forever cherish Jim's memory are his wife, Mary; daughter, Terry; son, Brian (Delwyn); grandsons, Rob (Cindie), Darby; granddaughters, Christina (Loris), Brooke (Trevor), Morgan (Yanik); great-grandsons, Randy, Kyle, Benett; great granddaughters, Sarah, Jenna and great-great-grandson, Alex; as well as extended family, Denise Lintott. He was predeceased by his parents, Minerva and Michael, siblings, Michael, Frederick and Jack, son, James and daughter, Linda (Don). Jim enlisted in the army during the Second World War at the age of 16. He celebrated his 18th birthday in the Invasion of Italy. At war's end, with his war bride Mary, he returned to his birthplace, Glace Bay, Cape Breton Island, N.S. After a time in the coal mine he re-enlisted in the army. His last posting was Winnipeg where he retired and made it home for him and his family. Jim was a kind, generous, thoughtful man who loved his family and friends and who in return loved him. He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pauline Finlayson Sydney Mines - Pauline Finlayson, 35 Convent St., Sydney Mines, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, at the Northside General Hospital. Born in Sydney Mines, she was the daughter of the late Murdock and Mary (Miles) Finlayson. Pauline was employed at the Northside General Hospital for 34 years. She was a member of Immaculate Conception parish, Sydney Mines, and a member of the parish CWL. She is survived by her brother, Dwight 'Moody' (Lorraine) Finlayson; her nephews, Terry and Blair Finlayson and her grandniece, Alexandria. There will be no visitation. Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of Francis Funeral Home, Sydney Mines. A family graveside service will take place Monday at 10 a.m. in Brookside Cemetery, Sydney Mines, with Fr. J.J. MacDonald and Rev. John Finlayson officiating. There will be a memorial mass at Immaculate Conception Church at a later date. Donations may be made to Cape Breton Palliative Care or the Canadian Cancer Society. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to d.francis@ns.sympatico.ca. ******************************************************************************* Cape Breton Deaths courtesy of CBGHA http://www.cbgha.org