Cape Breton Deaths courtesy of CAPE BRETON GENEALOGY & HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE - <http://www.cbgen.org/>www.cbgen.org NEW MEMBERS WELCOME Inverness Oran Deaths November 20, 2013 Wednesday There are 7 obituaries published this week Hélène (Roach) Aucoin, 87 yrs Rita Boudreau, 91 yrs Marlene A. Holmes, 55 yrs Marguerite Reynelda "Nelda" MacDonald, 76 yrs "Betty" MacDonald, 91 yrs Leroy MacPhail, 79 yrs Donald Edwin Rasmussen, 96 yrs AUCOIN Hélène Aucoin, 87, Cheticamp, passed away November 7th, 2013 in Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney. Born in Cheticamp, she was a daughter of the late Patrick P. and Marie Anne (LeFort) Roach. Our mother was devoted to her family first and foremost. She enjoyed rug hooking and playing cards. Hélène enjoyed going for a drive and appreciated the simple things in life. In years past she enjoyed going to dances at La Salle des Retraites. She loved when her grandchildren would visit and made everyone feel welcome in her home. She is survived by sons Marcel Aucoin (JoHanne), Halifax; Gerard Aucoin (Gloria), Cheticamp; daughters Jeannine Aucoin (Michel), St. Lazare, Que.; Geraldine Bourgeois (Leonard), Cheticamp; Annette Aucoin, Sydney; brother Paul Roach (Amélia), Plateau; sisters Marie Adèle Poirier and Maria Dodge (John), both of Cheticamp; grandchildren Julie Cormier, Louise Meilleur-Cormier, Tammy Aucoin, Melissa Aucoin, Andrea Aucoin, Marc Bourgeois, Nicole Bourgeois, Natalie Rozon; great-grandchildren Julien LeBlanc, Marion Thouvenin, Anthony Meilleur, Cédrick Meilleur, William Cresswell, Hélène Cresswell, Fréderique Meunier, and Emma Oakley. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph E. Aucoin; son Gerard in infancy; daughter Marie in infancy; great-granddaughters Lori-Jade Meilleur-Cormier and Mélanie LeBlanc; brother Alphonse Roach. The body was cremated. Funeral mass was held on Tuesday, November 12th, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Church, Cheticamp. Burial was in the parish cemetery. Donations may be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Cheticamp Funeral Services Ltd. Condolences may be sent to: [email protected] BOUDREAU Rita Boudreau, age 91, Foyer Pand#61520;re Fiset, Cheticamp, died November 12th, 2013, in Foyer Pand#61520;re Fiset. Born in Margaree, she was a daughter of the late Philippe LeBlanc and Anastasie (Poirier) LeBlanc. For numerous years, Rita Boudreau worked as an admission clerk at Sacred Heart Hospital. She greatly contributed to the community by volunteering in the organizations of La Société St. Pierre and Le Manoir St. Pierre. As well, she was a founding member of the Sacred Heart Hospital Auxiliary of which she became an honorary member. The extended family of Le Foyer Pand#61520;re greatly contributed to her long and fruitful life. She will be missed by all her family and friends. She is survived by sons Daniel Boudreau (Guylaine Faucher), Cheticamp; David Boudreau, Moncton, N.B.; daughters Louise Boudreau, Simone Boudreau (Jean-Marc Renault), both of Cheticamp; sister Margaret Bourgeois, Cheticamp; grandchildren Gaetan, Mathieu, Marie-Eve Boudreau. She was predeceased by husband Léo P. Boudreau; brothers John, Leo, Edmond, Wilfred, Alex, Joseph and Charlie; sisters Elizabeth, Antoinette, Antoinette, Lorette; half-sister Helene. Funeral mass was held on Friday, Nov. 15th, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Church, Cheticamp. Burial was in the parish cemetery. Donations may be made to Foyer Père Fiset Guest Home. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Cheticamp Funeral Services Ltd. Condolences may be sent to: [email protected] HOLMES Marlene A. Holmes, 1958-2013, 55, of Pine Glen, NB, passed away peacefully at her residence following a courageous battle with breast cancer, on Tuesday, November 12th, 2013. Born in Inverness, Cape Breton, she was the daughter of J. Buddy and Molly Timmons. She will be sadly missed by her loving husband of 25 years, Paul Holmes; her parents Buddy and Molly Timmons of Inverness; father-in-law and mother-in-law Joe and Leitha Holmes of Perth Andover; her siblings, Jim (Kay) Timmons of New Glasgow, Charlotte (Ken) Dalton of Edmonton, Darlene (Angus) Campbell of Inverness, Murray (Bonnie) Timmons of Edmonton, Edy (Rick) Hesse of Oromocto, Sandy (Cathy) Timmons of New Glasgow and Wilma Timmons of Inverness; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Joe (Kim) Holmes, David (Marilyn) Holmes, Richard (the late Dianne) Holmes, Peter (Susan) Holmes, Anna Holmes, Margaret Anne (Verdall) Finnamore and Danny (Amanda) Holmes; as well as their community dog "Chappy." Her joys included watching her special girls grow into beautiful adults, being with her Findlay Family from Tim Horton's providing smiles and great memories and going with her shopping buddies who amongst them all couldn't buy a vowel. As proud as she was of her nieces and nephews too numerous to name, she was also loved by the extended family of both Timmons and Holmes and those of her community. The funeral service was held at Riverview Funeral Home Memorial Chapel, on Friday, November 15th, 2013 at 8:15 p.m. with Pastor Jim Eagles officiating. Cremation took place following the service in Riverview. The family will receive relatives and friends at the Inverness Funeral Home in Inverness, Cape Breton this Friday, November 22nd, 2013 from the hours of 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. with a memorial service on Saturday, November 23rd, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. from Stella Maris Parish Church, Inverness, with burial in Strathlorne, Cape Breton. Donations to Mar's Miracles "Run for the Cure" c/o Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Atlantic Chapter, Halifax, NS would be appreciated by her family. Arrangements have been entrusted to Riverview Funeral Home, 214 Pine Glen Rd., Riverview, NB, (506) 857-9544. Online condolences can be made at www.tuttlefuneralhome.ca. MacDONALD Marguerite Reynelda "Nelda" MacDonald of Port Hood passed away peacefully on November 15th in Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital. She was born on August 26th, 1937 to beloved parents John Alex, deceased in 1966, and mother Beatrice who passed away in 1986. Nelda resided in Port Hood in her family home for her entire life. At 20 years of age Nelda began a 37-year career at the Inverness County Courthouse, spending her last twelve years there as the registrar of deeds and probate. Those years of her life were very meaningful to Nelda, and even in recent months she was able to recount many details of her career: the satisfaction she took in her work, the friendships made, and the countless laughs and memories shared with coworkers along the way. She considered herself fortunate to have been able to find work "at home," and to continue to provide companionship to dear Bea, her mother. Nelda was predeceased by older brothers Kenny and Wency and sister Cecilia. She is survived by brothers Donald (Montreal), Joe (Bramalea, Ont.), Mary Evelyn "Bobbie" (Port Hood), and Joanie (Barrie, Ont.). She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews to whom she was so good throughout the years. Nelda contributed much to her community, volunteering for over 30 years as bookkeeper for St. Peter's Parish, and spending many hours of her retired years in quiet acts of charity, faith and kindness. In healthier days she was an active member of the Legion of Mary and a consistent helper to the Sisters of Our Lady Immaculate during their years of service in Port Hood. Nelda enjoyed life's simple pleasures: enduring faith, loyal friends, her feline buddy "Mochin," listening to old stories, Celtic music, being around "little ones" and, in earlier years, Sunday afternoon drives with "Mama," something she recalled fondly just days before her passing. Nelda believed in doing any task, great or small, to the best of her ability and lived her life by that standard. Dear sister, aunt, cousin and friend, we honour your life and will miss you greatly. Visitation is being held from 2:00-9:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, November 20th in Port Hood Resting Place with a funeral mass at St. Peter's Church, Port Hood, on Thursday, November 21st at 11:00 a.m. Donations in Nelda's memory may be made to the St. Peter's Cemetery Fund or to your local food bank. On-line condolences may be made to www.invernessfuneralhome.com. MacDONALD It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our dear mom, "Betty" MacDonald, 91, on November 14th, 2013, in Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital after a brave struggle with cancer. Betty was born on November 12th, 1922 to Irish immigrants, James Lawrence and Rose Anne (O'Donnell) Ryan who immigrated through Pier 21 to reside in Inverness. Betty married Dan Joe and together raised six children in the community of Inverness. Betty demonstrated the qualities of kindness and hospitality throughout her life. There was rarely a meal time when friends and neighbours were not at her dining table enjoying her cooking or feasting on her baking. Betty was a caring, intelligent, and compassionate person and a devout member of Stella Maris Parish. Betty was the last surviving member of her family, being predeceased by her parents, James and Rose Anne (Ryan); her sisters, Anne, Frances, Margaret, and Mary; brothers James, Ed, Pat, Lauchlin, and John. Betty was also predeceased by her husband, Dan Joe; sons, Ned and Donnie; her daughter, Rose Anne, in infancy; and grandson John Edward. Left to mourn her passing are her daughter and caregiver, Jean, at home; Terrance, at home; Robert (Cindy), Strathlorne; Jamie (Janet), Sydney River; and daughter-in-law Abby (late Ned), Inverness. Betty's grandchildren, Janna, Breanna, Bhreagh, Robert, Kimberly, April, Lisa, Shamus, Trevor, Shane, Dan, Keigan and Samantha were her pride and joy. Betty is also mourned by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation was held on Sunday, Nov. 17th in Inverness Funeral Home. A mass of Christian burial was held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 18th in Stella Maris Church, Inverness, with Fr. Duncan MacIsaac officiating, burial in the parish cemetery. Donation in Betty's memory may be made to the Canadian Red Cross, Stella Maris Cemetery Fund, Inverness, or a charity of choice. Family flowers only by request. Online condolences may be given to www.invernessfuneralhome.com. A sweet and kind, gentle soul has enriched us as she passed through this world. MacPHAIL Leroy MacPhail, 79, of East Walpole, MA, formerly of Scotsville, passed away on November 5th, following a long illness. He was the loving husband of Agnes (MacKinnon) of 52 years. He was a cherished son of the late Malcolm John and Elizabeth (MacKenzie); devoted father of Joanne MacPhail-Walsh and her husband Brian of Quincy and Donna MacPhail of Walpole; cherished brother of Calum and his wife Mary of Lower Sackville and Kenzie and his wife Kathleen of Scotsville and the late Joy MacPhail-Power. He is also survived by the joys of his life, his grandchildren, Conor and Quinn Catherine Walsh, and also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and friends. Visiting hours were held at the Alexander F. Thomas and Sons Funeral Home, 45 Common St., Walpole. Funeral service was held at the Presbyterian Church in Needham, MA, interment at Knollwood Memorial Park, Canton. He was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church in Needham where he sang in the Gaelic and English choirs and served on the board of trustees; proud member of the Local 40 Carpenters Union; long-time member of the Azure Masonic Lodge of Walpole. Donations in his memory can be made to the Presbyterian Church in Needham, 1458 Great Plain Ave., Needham, MA 02492 or the East Lake Ainslie Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, RR 1, Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia, BOE 3MO. The family wishes to thank Leroy's brothers and families for their loving support over the years. We would also like to thank extended family and friends for messages of sympathy, flowers and phone calls. He will live in our hearts forever. RASMUSSEN Donald Edwin Rasmussen, 96, died peacefully, surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, on Friday, October 18th, 2013, in Berkeley, California. Don remained active and independent to the end, walking daily, attending exercise classes, and enjoying people. Don was born in Kolze (now Schiller Park), Illinois, in 1916. His father was a railroad engineer and his mother a teacher. Don attended Elmhurst College and the University of Illinois, where he received a PhD in sociology and met his wife Lore, a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany. In 1942, Don and Lore moved to Alabama, where Don taught sociology and economics and Lore teacher education at Talladega College, a historically black college. Don and Lore became committed "foot soldiers" in the early civil rights movement. During their first year in Alabama they were both jailed by the Birmingham police for eating with the executive director of the Southern Negro Youth Congress in Nancy's Cafe, a black restaurant. They had violated Birmingham's segregation codes prohibiting blacks and whites from dining together. Don and Lore's remarkable experiences in Alabama were recounted in From Swastika to Jim Crow, a documentary film aired on PBS in 2001. In 2003, Talladega College presented Don and Lore with honorary doctorate degrees for "your contributions to education and your untiring fight to ensure human rights." In the early 1950s, Don and Lore co-directed Circle Pines Center, a cooperative family summer camp and education center in Michigan frequented by social activists from across the U.S. In 1956, they moved with their three sons to Pennsylvania, where Don became headmaster of the Miquon School, a cooperative elementary school. Don co-authored the Basic Reading Series, a linguistic approach to reading for young children still published by McGraw-Hill Education. After leaving Miquon, Don worked with Lore in public education at the Durham Child Development Center in Philadelphia, where he specialized in teacher professional development. Don and Lore moved to Berkeley, California in the mid-1980s. In 1984 and 1986, Don led teams of U.S educators on professional visits to China, where they trained editors of People's Education Press (PEP) on innovative approaches to mathematics and science education. Don brought the first computers used for educational purposes to PEP and had remained close to PEP leadership and staff. His last trip to China was in 2009 at the age of 93. A committed world adventurer, Don traveled extensively in Central and South America, China, Europe and Scandinavia, making friends, hiking, and contributing to educational projects. From the late 1960s, Don spent most summers in Meat Cove and Bay St. Lawrence on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. Don is survived by three sons, Peter (and Wei Zhang) in Berkeley, David (and Tamara) in Bay St. Lawrence, Nova Scotia, and Steven (and Felicia Woytak) in Berkeley; nine grandchildren, Rochelle, Michael, Donald, Aran, Meril, Barbara, Marie, Viki and Scott; and twelve great-grandchildren. Don was predeceased by his wife Lore, sister Maysel Gauron, and grandson Daniel.