Carol MacDonald
1936-2021
WEST BRANCH, NB – Carol MacDonald, 84, of West
Branch passed away peacefully at the Rexton Lions Nursing Home in
Rexton, NB on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. Born in West
Branch, she was the daughter of the late Townsand Wilson and late
Eleanor (Morton) Wilson Graham.
She attended school in West Branch and then went on to
Teacher’s College in Fredericton, later teaching in South
Branch until her marriage to Lee MacDonald.
A few years after she and Lee married they moved to Margaree
Valley where they built their home and raised their children.
They settled into the community life of Margaree where they
stayed for the next 50 years. The only reason she
would ever want to leave would be to visit her family or to see the
sun after 3 or 4 weeks of everyday flurries. Dad once took
her to Antigonish just to see the sun when there was a particularly
long stretch of flurries in Margaree.
She loved being a mother and later a grandmother. She sewed
clothes for us kids when we were little; taking apart her skirts and
dresses to make matching ones for us girls. She enjoyed quilting and
arts and crafts. She could turn her hand to anything.
She also enjoyed painting landscapes.
She and her mother would plan painting projects when she
visited. I remember the day the two of them escaped to go
paint the Cap Lumiere Lighthouse. After they moved back to West Branch
we found both of their paintings. She loved gardening, having outdoor
projects and being in the sunshine.
Mom died peacefully in the final stage of dementia.
About ten years ago she began having difficulty being as organized as
she usually was, ordinary tasks became harder. Dealing with
the early stages of dementia was such a hard time for her and Dad.
Words on a page cannot capture how isolating and confusing
those early days are. As it progressed travel between
Margaree and New Brunswick was becoming more challenging for Mom so
the hard decision was made to move back to West Branch. We
are thankful for the great love and support they had from their
friends in the Valley.
Back in West Branch Mom and Dad enjoyed reconnecting with
family and friends. They often played cards while visiting
in the evening, and Mom still retaining her skill at cards; what was
trump had always been secondary to conversation
anyway.
She loved sitting on the driveway in the sun, with her legs
stretched in front of her ankles crossed, enjoying her tea watching
the birds. We are so grateful to their family and friends in
Kent County. We hoped that Mom and Dad’s life
might be easier for a few more years among family and in the familiar
places of Mom’s childhood. We thought it might
make a difference for a couple of years and we got much more than
that. Thank you to all their family and friends who loved
and supported them. Also thanks so much to their home care
workers Kathy Roberts, Teri Glendenning and Pauline
Robichaud. Pauline especially went above and beyond the call
of duty barbequing when the power was off through the ice
storm.
For the past few years Rexton Lions Nursing Home has been her
home. We could not have asked for any better care, not only
nursing care but every member of the staff talks to the
residents. We are very thankful that she lived in a place
where she was so content and well looked after. Thank you
everyone at Rexton Lion’s Nursing Home for all the small
things that you did that made her feel that
way.
She was predeceased by her husband, Lee MacDonald: her
parents; her sister Betty; and brother Trueman and his wife
Betty.
Carol will be sadly missed by her two daughters, Betty
Bennett (Mark) of Inverness, NS; Susan MacDonald (Arthur) of Bedford,
NS; four sons, John MacDonald (Nannette) of Sydney, NS; Gordon
MacDonald (Shari) of Milton, PEI; Colin MacDonald (Marisol) of West
Branch, NB; David MacDonald (Nicole) of Hammonds Plains, NS;
and twelve grandchildren, Rachel, Luke, Leah, Adam; Emily, Jack; Zoe,
Cameron; Ryan, Lillian, Jane and Grace.
She is also survived by one brother, Fred Wilson (Winnie) of
West Branch; sisters-in-law, Audrey Archibald (Leland) of Oromocto,
Georgina Daigle (Tom) of Kouchibouguac; three brothers-in-law, Ken
MacDonald (Dolly) of McKees Mills, Ivan MacDonald (Marion) of
Sackville, NS Harry McIlroy (late Doris) of Ottawa, Ont and many
nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Thompson’s Funeral Home
in Richibucto on Friday from 7-9 pm (only). A funeral
service will be celebrated on Saturday, November 20, 2012 at 11:00 am
at the Zion Presbyterian Church in West
Branch.
Arrangements are in the care of Thompson’s Funeral
Home in Richibucto (523-4252)
19362021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Carol MacDonald 19362021..
Décès pour la Ville: Richibucto, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick