Adeline Annie «Del» (Folks) MacInnes
1930-2021
Adeline Annie
«Del» (Folks) MacInnes
1930 –
2021
«Guard my name that
you knew before it was given,
for it tells my story now and will bear
my sojourn here,
until you have called it on the wind,
left it
in the hearts of my loved ones
and sent your flight attenders to carry
me home.»
-Tess Ward, ‘The Celtic Wheel
of the Year’
It is with tender and loving hearts that we, the children of
Adeline «Del» and the late Clinton
«Mac» MacInnes, announce her passing. Mum faded away
peacefully in the morning hours of Monday, February 1, 2021, attended
by her family and under the kindly and expert attention of long-term
care staff at Evergreen Home for Special Care in
Kentville.
Adeline Annie «Del» (Folks) MacInnes was
born in 1930 at the Infirmary in Halifax, the fifth of twelve
children. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Edward Folks (World
War I veteran) and Carrie Frances Regis (Murray) Folks (who ministered
to the sick in the temporary community built on the Common following
the Halifax Explosion).
Predeceased by sisters, Lorraine, Alice, Anna-Marie and
Elaine and brothers Edward, Laurie, Don and Gerry, Del is survived by
sisters, Linda Folks and Catherine Daigle and by her brother,
Harry.
Del was predeceased in 2012 by her ever-loving husband of 61
years, Clinton Clyde MacInnes and is survived and sadly missed by
their children, Beth (Kevin) Irvine, David (Mary Curry), Peter (Jane
Jordan), Anna-Marie (Don) Osburn, Catherine «Kate»
(Brian) Adams, Susan (Andrew) Frelick and John (Veronica Henderson).
Del and Clinton (Nana and Grandfather) were attentive to and beloved
by their 17 grandchildren; Jason, Innes, Regis, Emily, Nick, Joe,
Daniel, Sean, Keely, Jenny, Meagan, Melyssa, Peter, Paige, Ben,
William and Hannah; and by step-grandchildren Selena and Kristen.
Their 20 something and counting great-grandchildren are; Kiara,
Edward, Bailey, Rhys David, Maggie, Madden, Calvin, Dean, Alexa,
Molly, Rowan, Magnolia, Kieran, Adeline, Mason, Tyler, Rudo and Cesar;
step-great grandchildren are Chris, Lincoln and Joe Bass and Blajimy
and Brawendz St. Preux.
During most of her childhood our mother lived with her family
on North Albert Street, overlooking Halifax Harbour. She attended
Sunday School at United Memorial Church; this was the beginning of her
life-long attachment to and active involvement in the United Church of
Canada. Del graduated with honours from Grade 9 at Richmond School in
North End Halifax. Her teachers were encouraging and she won books
(which she treasured throughout her life) for her
achievements.
In 1945 Del moved with her family to Kingsport where they
lived in a large and lovely old house called «The Maples».
Here she attended Emmanuel United Church, where she was confirmed.
Briefly, she attended Kings County Academy in Kentville where she met
the love of her life, our father, Clinton. She finished off her
schooling at Canning High School and graduated from there in 1947. In
the ensuing years before marrying, she enjoyed her independence
working for Maritime Tel & Tel and
Simpson’s.
Del married our father in 1951 in Toronto before moving back
to Nova Scotia, eventually settling in Digby where Dad had accepted a
teaching position. It was here they would spend many years raising
their young and growing family while leading active social lives and
engaging in community service. Our young family’s lives were
enriched by Mum’s and Dad’s membership in the
Grace United Church. Del was a life-long member of the Valley
Presbytery United Church Women where she served in many capacities and
on several committees. As we, her children, became more independent,
she went back to school where she graduated with honours in Business
Education in 1974 and began working in various
secretarial/receptionist positions. In 1977 she earned her Real Estate
Agent License and practiced as a real estate agent in the Digby area.
Following Dad’s retirement, they moved back to their beloved
Valley and bought a beautiful, old house in Gaspereau. Mum always said
this was her favourite home and she would remember it fondly for the
rest of her life. While living here and later in Wolfville, she
continued her community work and volunteered with the Canadian Cancer
Society, Meals on Wheels, Evergreen Home for Special Care and various
other outreaches. She participated actively in the social life of the
communities to which she belonged, with special interests in rug
hooking (Valley Branch of the Rug Hookers Guild of Nova Scotia) and
discussing literary fiction with her book club. She was a member of
the Orchard Valley United Church.
Until COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020, Del continued her
volunteer work by reading aloud for the weekly Story Hour in the
Children’s Wing at the Evergreen Home for Special Care.
Del was a life-long learner and cultivated many interests and
causes throughout her life. She loved babies! Pigs made her laugh and
she collected and was gifted many creative versions of them. Always,
she followed, with interest and encouragement, the development and
achievements of her children and grandchildren. Del had a passion for
poetry and literature and took advantage of Acadia University’s
Lifelong Learning by taking a year-long writing course which
challenged her to explore new ways of thinking and expressing herself.
She was particularly inspired by Robertson Davies and the use of
Jungian philosophy in his writing. This, along with her devotion to
Christian ethics and love of reading, was the stuff of many a deep
conversation with both family and friends who were also delighted,
from time to time, with her surprising wit and gentle irreverence. As
a result, Del had many friends and made friends easily with people of
all ages.
Our mother had an eye for beauty, for colour and design.
These attributes are reflected by the many beautiful, hooked pieces
she made over the years that now adorn our homes. She liked things
arranged just so and never stopped imagining the way things could be
in her mind’s eye. This was never more apparent than last Christmas
when she helped decorate the little tree in her room at Evergreen and
directed our sister how the ornaments should be arranged. The tree,
her last, was beautiful indeed, as it had been throughout all her
years at home.
Since our father died in 2012, we had all noticed a decline
in Del. Slowly, at first, little things that were easy to overlook,
and then, becoming undeniable as we realized she needed help with
daily living. She recognized all of us kids until the end. We, our
father, her sister Linda, her mum and dad, her special friend, Jane
Mangle and long-time friends, Charlotte and Keith Boates, became the
focus of her thoughts, though many more old and dear friends and
family members were mentioned in her conversation. It will be
endlessly sad that the COVID virus interrupted our time with her, but
we will be forever grateful to the staff and management at Evergreen
for facilitating us as designated caregivers and for allowing all of
us all to say our goodbyes in the end. Mum had some favourites among
her caregivers at Evergreen; they know who they are and we thank them
from the bottom of our hearts.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held
in the Orchard Valley United Church. A video webcast of the service
will be available at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 10, 2021, or any
time after, by visiting: www.orchardvalleyunited.ca.
We regret that due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19
pandemic, attendance is restricted.
Donations in Del’s memory may be made to the
charity of your choice.
The family would like to thank the White Family Funeral Home
and Cremation Services, Kentville, for their kind and professional
service. On-line condolences and inquiries may be directed to
www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com.
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19302021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Adeline Annie Del Folks MacInnes 19302021..
Décès pour la Ville: Kentville, Province: Nova Scotia