Cape Breton Deaths courtesy of CAPE BRETON GENEALOGY & HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE - <http://www.cbgen.org/>www.cbgen.org NEW MEMBERS WELCOME Cape Breton Deaths November 12, 2013 Tuesday There are 6 obituaries published today Alice Almond - 75 yrs Marion (MacLean) Tarr - Irene Elizabeth Donovan - 80 yrs Tony Allan MacKinnon - 61 yrs John A. 'Jack' Robson - 88 yrs Karl E. Robson - 72 yrs Alice Almond Born: May 20th, 1938 Passed on: November 10th, 2013 Alice Almond, mother, mentor, fashionista, Red Hatter, tarabish player, champion baker and one of Cape Breton's greatest advocates passed away Nov. 10, 2013, at the age of 75. As her children we are heartbroken with her sudden passing and wish we could have had more time with her. We take comfort in the everyday memories we have of Mom and feel truly blessed to have grown up in the wonderful family that she and Dad made for us - creating memories that will stay with us for life. Mom was born in Reserve Mines, and was the daughter of the late Walter and Veronica (Fahey) Finlayson. She married our Dad, Michael, in 1960 and together they had 50 wonderful years of marriage before Dad passed away just two years ago. They lived in Boston shortly after marrying but moved back to Cape Breton in the late 60s to raise our family. They complemented each other well, socialized often and loved to go dancing almost as much as we enjoyed watching them together. Mom often said Dad was the wind beneath her wings that allowed her to fulfill her career and community aspirations. Mom's working life spanned more than 50 years during which time she held a number of increasingly senior administrative roles in the private and public sector before retiring just five years ago. For most people the countdown to retirement begins in your 50s - maybe 60s but Mom loved her work too much to quit. Undaunted by challenge, Mom spent the bulk of her career working for the federal government to boost employment in Cape Breton. She worked tirelessly for decades creating programs to train and retrain people, to assist individuals find meaningful work and with organizations to create opportunities for Cape Bretoners. She made a difference for so many people. For Mom, it wasn't just a job - she loved to see people reach their potential and gave so many the confidence and support they needed at difficult times in their lives. We are and always will be incredibly proud of Mom and all that she accomplished in her professional career devoting her life to helping others. She gave willingly and often to her community over the years volunteering for countless organizations including the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Task Force, the Association for Safer Cape Breton Communities, the Advisory Committee on Queen's Counsel Appointments, the IWK Hospital, Junior Achievement and was the founder of the Arlene MacNeil Trust Fund Foundation. For her efforts she received many honours: First Lady of the Year, Beta Sigma Phi International, 1995; Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation; the Merit Award for Public Service Entrepreneurship; Award for Outstanding Commitment to Community Service from the Nova Scotia Director General and was one of the top 10 finalists for the Canadian Women's Mentor Awards. In 1999, she was recognized in the Who's Who of Canadian Women publication. Despite a busy career and volunteer life, Mom had lots of hobbies and a wonderful circle of friends. She was the founder and an active member of the Cape Breton Chapter of the Red Hat Society, enjoyed a game of tarabish a couple of times a week at one of the local gathering spots, was a bit of a political junkie and in recent years took up gardening. She loved to entertain friends at home and turned her garage into a make shift hall complete with enough tables and chairs to host card tournaments and parties. She loved to shop and found the search for a bargain exhilarating - a passion she passed along to us. She was well-known for her cooking and baking. Mom was always making something for someone - our family, the local clergy, a neighbour, a sick friend, or her fellow card players. She was one of these people who could take one gigantic bowl and then all of a sudden on the counter would appear four pies, three pans of squares and a batch of tea biscuits, all before most of us were out of bed. And she made the best pancakes hands down. She was the most wonderful mother. She was always there when we needed advice or support dropping everything on a dime when someone called. She taught us to be selfless and to see the bigger picture. She was the ultimate optimist who believed attitude was everything. We often said that Mom was the champion of the underdog taking the side of the person most needing her support. She was strong-willed and opinionated (but in a nice way) and you never wondered where she stood on any issue. She could stretch a dollar and ran our home as efficiently as she managed her career. She regularly visited our relatives in Boston, loved cars (especially her current convertible), the Casino, travelling, American Idol and dark rum and cherished her dog Bella, her constant companion at home. She recently opened a part of her home to three international students who became instant friends to Mom. She relished her role as Gramma and never hesitated to overstep boundaries and dish out advice. That's why we loved her. Like she did with her own children, she challenged her grandchildren to work hard and give their best effort. She took personal pride in their academic and athletic accomplishments and always took their side in any debate with one of us. It was a right of passage in our family that each of her granddaughters learned to make their first pie under her watchful eye. Left to grieve are her five children, Charlene MacKinnon (Kevin), Halifax, Natalie Paris (James), Sydney, Deanna Gallaway (Dave), Halifax, Allison Donovan (Blair), Halifax, and Michael Almond (Krista) Halifax; eight grandchildren, Julia, Sara, Clara, Jarrod, Lauren, Taylor, Bradley and Julianne and one great-grandchild, Lucas. She is also survived by a sister, Nan Murphy (Arnold); a brother, Melvin Finlayson (Pearl); several nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. Besides her parents and Dad, Mom was predeceased by her brother, Charlie Finlayson and grandson, Matthew Fitzgerald. Visitation for Mom will be at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with a funeral mass Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Sydney River. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation. We extend our sincerest thanks to Dr. Paul Murphy, Mom's family doctor for many years, and to the doctors and nurses at the QE II Hospital in Halifax who provided exceptional care to Mom during her most recent stay. Online condolences to www.twcurry.com. Marion Tarr (nee MacLean) Passed on: November 10th, 2013 At the Palliative Care Unit of the Prince Edward Home on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, of Marion Ann Tarr (nee MacLean). Beloved wife of John 'Jack' Tarr. Loving mother of Grant Tarr (Donna) and Janice Tarr (Jeff). Lovingly remembered by her grandchildren, Jacques and Danielle Pellerin, Jenna, Kendra and Kenzie Tarr, by her great-grandchildren, Brynlee and Lyla; by her son-in-law, Blair Pellerin and by her sister, Joan MacLean. Predeceased by her daughter, Joanne Pellerin, by her parents, Joe and Hilda MacLean. Resting at Belvedere Funeral Home, Charlottetown, P.E.I., for visiting hours on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral from St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, Charlottetown, on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Interment in Peters Road Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to St. Mark's Presbyterian Church or to the Palliative Care Unit of the Prince Edward Home. www.belvederefh.com Irene Donovan Born In: Sydney Mines Born: January 16th, 1933 Passed in: North Sydney Passed on: November 10th, 2013 It is with deepest sadness we announce the passing of Irene, our beloved sister and aunt on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, from the Northside General Hospital, North Sydney. Born in Sydney Mines, she was the daughter of the late Levi and Rita Alice (Budgen) Bonnar. Irene loved to sit on her veranda, she enjoyed knitting but most of all she loved listening to Daniel O'Donnell. She was the loving sister of Jeannie McGean, Winston (Margie) Bonnar, Melvin (Carol) Bonnar and Linda MacNeil. Aunt to several neices and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, James 'Buller' Bonnar, Chesley 'Duddy' Bonnar, sisters, Annabelle Ryan, Viola McCarthy, Shirley Salisbury and May Ryan. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with a funeral service on Thursday at 2 p.m. all from Fillmore and Whitman Funeral Home, 10 Clyde Ave. Sydney Mines. Major Kent Hepditch officiating. Interment in Brookside Cemetery. Donations in Irene's memory may be sent to the Salvation Army or to the Diabetes Association. Online condolences may be sent to www.fillmoreandwhitman.com. Tony MacKinnon Born In: Black Point Born: May 16th, 1962 Passed on: November 9th, 2013 It was the deepest sympathy to announce the sudden passing of Tony Allan MacKinnon at home on November 9th, 2013. Tony was born in Black Point on May 16th, 1962, to the late Francis Lewis MacKinnon and Rose Harriet MacKinnon. He was a member of the United Church in Bay St Lawrence. Tony had a great love for hunting, fishing, ski-dooing, four-wheeling and country music. His greatest love was his grandchildren, Riley, Brian, Brooklyn and Madalyn. He was survived by his best friend and wife, Cathy of 34 years; sons, Allan (Tara) Margaree, Tony (Becky) Sydney Mines, Bernard (Ashley) Bay St Lawrence; sisters, Melvina, Darlene (Danny), Ruby (Archie), Mary Shaw (Tim), Phyllis Hines (Harold), Judy Hines (Hector), Carmen (Floyd) and Roseann (Justin); brothers, Charles (Willa), John (Noreen), William, James (Hughina), Joe, Darcy (Stella), Richard (Paula) and Jamus (Trisha); many nieces, nephews and great friends. There will be no visitation for the late Tony MacKinnon. His life will be celebrated on November 15th at 3 p.m. in Aspy Bay Church with Rev. Margaret Wood officiating. Burial service will be at a later date. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest God broke our hearts to prove to us, he only takes the best. John A. 'Jack' and Karl E. Robson It is with great sadness the family announces the deaths of John A. 'Jack' Robson, age 88 in London, Ont., Nov. 3, 2013, and his brother, Karl E. Robson, age 72 in Cranebrook, NSW, Australia, Nov. 6, 2013. Born in Sydney, N.S., the sons of the late Palmer Robson and the late Stella (Moore) Robson. Survived by sisters, Edith Ross of Halifax, Barbara Fitsell of Kingston, Ont. and Shirley MacPherson of London, Ont. and several cousins nieces and nephews. John A. 'Jack' Robson It is with great sadness the family announces the deaths of John A. 'Jack' Robson, age 88 in London, Ont., Nov. 3, 2013, and his brother, Karl E. Robson, age 72 in Cranebrook, NSW, Australia, Nov. 6, 2013. Born in Sydney, N.S., the sons of the late Palmer Robson and the late Stella (Moore) Robson. Survived by sisters, Edith Ross of Halifax, Barbara Fitsell of Kingston, Ont. and Shirley MacPherson of London, Ont. and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Karl E. Robson It is with great sadness the family announces the death of Karl E. Robson, age 72 in Cranebrook, NSW, Australia, Nov. 6, 2013, , and his brother, John A. 'Jack' Robson, age 88 in London, Ont., Nov. 3, 2013. Born in Sydney, N.S., the sons of the late Palmer Robson and the late Stella (Moore) Robson. Survived by sisters, Edith Ross of Halifax, Barbara Fitsell of Kingston, Ont. and Shirley MacPherson of London, Ont. and several cousins, nieces and nephews.