Barbara Elizabeth MacKay
1936-2021
Barbara
Elizabeth (Fletcher) MacKay – age 85, of Wolfville, passed
away on Friday, July 16, 2021. Born in Sault Ste Marie, Ont., she was
the daughter of the late Gordon and Ethel (Radford) Fletcher and wife
of the late W. Donald MacKay.
Born January 2, 1936, Barbara lived the first
six years of her life at the Abitibi logging communities of Magpie
Junction and the Herrick Depot. There, with the assistance of her
mother, she learned to read and write from school lessons the
government sent up on the Algoma Central Railway train. Those early
childhood experiences instilled in her a creative curiosity which
allowed her to investigate all the magical inspirations she found in
her life. Barbara always treasured her northern Ontario heritage and
she made a point of returning to those beginnings every
year.
Barbara’s playful, adventurous spirit
captured the hearts of everyone she met. Theatre was her passion. Her
award-winning acting experiences with the Sault Theatre Workshop in
the 1950s, combined with a teaching career that began in the
Sault’s grade five classroom at F.H. Clergue to Sir James
Dunn High School, led her to expand her horizons. In the 1960s,
Barbara moved to London, England, to teach school. In the 1970s, she
and Don moved to Montreal where she became a drama professor at
Concordia University. After retirement, Barbara and Don settled in
Ireland for a few years before returning to Canada, making Wolfville,
Nova Scotia, their final resting place.
Barbara is survived by her stepdaughters,
Marina, and Karen; her sisters, Karen Bishop, Noella Depew, Ruth
Fletcher; her late brother, John Fletcher; sister-in-law, Pegi
Fletcher; grandchildren, Sian and Matthew Lewis; beloved aunt of
Geoff, Paula, John Paul, Anne Marie, Gregor, Fletcher, James, Celia
and John and a dear friend to our many cousins. In addition to her
parents, she was predeceased by her devoted husband, W. Donald
MacKay.
A special thank you to Kate Farris and her
superb, empathetic care team in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. They gave such
loving attention to Barbara and they made her part of their families
when COVID prevented us from being
there.
Cremation has taken place. Due to the COVID-19
pandemic and travel restrictions, a memorial service will be held at a
later date. Interment will take place in Lower Horton Cemetery, Grand
Pre, Nova Scotia. Donations in Barbara’s memory may be made
to the charity of your choice. Funeral
arrangements have been entrusted to the
White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville, NS.
On-line condolences and inquiries may be directed to
www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com.
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19362021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Barbara Elizabeth MacKay 19362021..
Décès pour la Ville: Kentville, Province: Nova Scotia