Cape Breton Deaths September 25, 2008 Thursday Hugh Laird MacDonnell Sydney - It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Hugh Laird, son, brother, husband, father and papa of Alexandra Street, Sydney, on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, at home. Hugh was the son of the late Catherine Barbara (MacRae) and Hugh Allan MacDonnell of Sydney. Hugh is survived by his wife of 37 years, Pauline (MacNeil) and five daughters, Elizabeth (George Ferris), Sydney, Barbara (Wayne Wasylucha), Edmonton, Colleen (Kevin MacNeil), Halifax, Lydia, Ottawa, and Mary Rose (George Moore) Sydney. He is also survived by seven loving grandchildren, Kirsten, Morgan, Ciana, Logan, Jack, Katie, Kyle and a sister, Mary (John Roberts), Sydney. Besides his parents, Hugh was predeceased by brother, James, sisters, June, Jeanette and Lydia. Hugh was a member of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry-Black Watch and served in Korea from 1953-1956. Hugh was employed with Sydney Steel and the Cape Breton Development Corp. and retired in 1994. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 128 and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He loved fishing, gardening, woodworking hiking and camping in Ingonish. He was an avid bowler with the colliery league in Sydney Mines. He will be remembered and loved by family, neighbours and friends. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m., Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, at the S.W. Chant & Son Funeral Home Chapel, 564 Alexandra St., Sydney, with Pastor Sheldon Chant officiating. Interment to follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks. Donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Cape Breton Palliative Care, or the Wildlife Park, Mira. Online condolences may be sent to our webpage at www.chantfuneralhome.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dorothy (nee Cann) MacKinnon - Died peacefully on Sept. 21, 2008, in Toronto. Dorothy was predeceased by her husband, Daniel Alexander MacKinnon, Lake Ainslie, C.B.; and her sister, Noreen Colford, South Bar, C.B. Loving mother of Donna Jean and Dorothy, Toronto, John (Nancy), Goderich and Daniel (Gale), Innisfil. Sister to Edwin, George and John Cann, Sydney, Gerald, Niagara, and Yvonne Carroll, Comox, B.C. Grandmother to Ian (Marie), Colin, Kate (Austin) and Tara MacKinnon, Amy (Matt) Sigman and Emily (Daniel) Carroll and four great-grandchildren. Dorothy worked for the City of Toronto as a social worker for 18 years. She was also co-founder of Nellie's Hostel, founding member of the National Action Committee for Women (NAC) and Pensioners Concerned; executive member of CUPE Local 79; founding member of Organized Working Women (OWW); and a member of Mayor's Committee on Aging. Family will receive friends at Murray E. Newbigging Funeral Home at 733 Mount Pleasant Rd., (south of Eglinton 416-489-8811), Thursday, Sept. 25 from 6-9 p.m. Funeral service at Wychwood Presbyterian Church at 155 Wychwood Ave. (at St. Clair Avenue), Toronto at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 26 with visitation starting at 10 a.m. Reception to follow at the Murray E. Newbigging Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations to Wychwood Presbyterian Church or Canadian Pensioners Concerned (Ontario Division). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sara Jean Smith Westmount - Sara Jean Smith, 88, Westmount, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney. Born in Glace Bay, she was the daughter of the late Norman and Etta Ferguson. A graduate of Glace Bay School of Nursing, Sara had a long and rewarding career. She was very proud of her service during the Second World War as a nursing sister in the Royal Canadian Army in Canada and the United Kingdom. Her experiences during this time in many ways defined her dedication to nursing as she frequently recalled her time in Newfoundland and London remembering both the good times, as well as the tragedy of war. After the war, she continued her nursing career at the Sydney City and St. Rita hospitals, as well as Sydney Steel Corp. Her knowledge and dedication was very respected by patients and colleagues. Sara was predeceased by her husband, William Gordon in 2000 and her sister, Mamie Ripley in 2006. Sara is survived by her son, Norm; daughter-in-law, Diane; grandchildren, Matthew, Krista and Geoff; her much adored great-granddaughter, Gracey. She is also survived by her brother, Duncan Ferguson, Glace Bay; niece, Marion (Blair) Mitchell; nephews, Scott (Diana) and Eric (Patricia) Ferguson; grandnieces, Jane and Sarah Jane; grandnephews, Alexander, Adam, Eric, Curtis, David and Michael, all of Halifax; sisters-in-law, Katherine Evans, Coxheath and Vivian (Albert) Golding and nephew, Jeff, Williamsburg, Virginia. Sara was tremendously proud of her family and in turn was loved and respected. She was always very involved in her grandchildren's lives and spoke often of their many accomplishments. Visitation for Sara will take place at Sydney Memorial Chapel, Friday, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A funeral service will be held at United Protestant Church of Sydney River, Saturday at 11 a.m. with Rev. Allan MacIntosh officiating. Interment in Forest Haven Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sara J. Smith Scholarship, Cape Breton University, Department of Nursing. Condolences may be sent to the family at sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pauline Elizabeth Brett 73, Dartmouth - It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of Pauline Elizabeth (Richardson) Brett, after a brief but valiant battle with cancer on Sept. 24, 2008. Although her family misses her deeply, it was God's will that she pass into glory. Born in Sydney, N.S., on Dec. 30, 1934, Pauline was the daughter of the late Alfred and Florence (MacGillivary) Richardson. Pauline will be remembered and cherished as a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She grew up in Sydney, where she attended Ashby School and Sydney Academy. She was a member of the Stevens Road United Baptist Church in Dartmouth and was active in several church activities including the 'Feed the Children' program. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Richard Brett; son, David (Jean), Halifax; and her daughter and best friend, Sheila, Oshawa. She is also survived by her brother, Vince, Oakville; by her grandsons, Ryan McKinnon, Japan, Aaron McKinnon and Nathan McKinnon, both of Oshawa; her granddaughter, Nicole Brett, Halifax; her nieces and nephews, Susan (Richardson) Roser and Sandi Richardson, both of Ontario, Kevin Martin and Linda (Martin) Lau, both of Sydney; her cousin, Judy Harper (Ron), Dartmouth; and many more nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her sister, Florence (Martin). We would like to thank Rev. Shirley DeMerchant for her spiritual support and the doctors, nurses and staff of the Dartmouth General, 3rd Floor West and QEII site 6A, for their compassion, support and efforts. There will be no visitation by request. A memorial service and reception will take place on Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. at Stevens Road United Baptist Church. Interment to follow at Dartmouth Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stevens Road United Baptist Church or a charity of your choice. ******************************************************************************* Cape Breton Deaths courtesy of CBGHA http://www.cbgha.org