PLEASE NOTE NEW SERVICE INFORMATION
BELOW
Bertha Elizabeth MacRae (Best known as « Chic »)
– 97, Great Village, formerly of Halifax, passed away
peacefully at her home Friday evening, May 21, 2021. She was a strong
woman, a caring woman, a family-oriented woman and a huge part of her
late brother, Lewis MacRae’s family.
Born in Erskine, Alberta, to the late Mabel (Parr) and the
late Allister MacRae, she lived in an era of the Great Depression and
in 1937, her father, who was a former Nova Scotian, packed them all up
and headed back East, travelling across Canada at 30 to 35 mph in a
1927 Model T Ford that her Dad had traded a team of horses and a cow
for. Chic was 14 and her brother, Lewis, was 12. They would camp along
the road in a canvas tent, having picnic lunches along the way. They
arrived in Nova Scotia in August of 1937, going to visit her
mother’s sister, Pearl Knight, in Portapique before heading
off to Summerville in the Annapolis Valley where her father was
from.
Her family moved to Glenholme in 1945 but after starting work
at the local telephone office, Chic moved on to start a career with
Royal Bank in Windsor. She would remain with Royal Bank for more than
41 years, working in their Toronto branch and then in their Halifax
branches, first on Gottingen Street and then on Spring Garden Road,
where she would stay until she retired as a Loans Officer with the
Bank.
Her plan on retirement was to enjoy time expanding her
painting hobby, taking her Siberian Husky, Chila, to dog shows,
golfing, spending time with her great friend, the late Betty Orchard,
and enjoying beach life at her cottage in Bass River. In 1997 she
moved to Great Village to be near her brother’s family and
enjoy life in the country with them. Chic had a bit of wanderlust and
travelled across Canada and Europe as well as becoming well acquainted
with all the back roads in Nova Scotia.
She believed in supporting charities and the community. She
was a member of Quota Club in Halifax as well as Business and
Professional Women’s Club of Nova Scotia. She was Treasurer
of Wheels to Meals for Royal Canadian Legion as well as
Treasurer for Great Village Community Association. She was also a
member of St. James United Church Choir, and a member of the local
Garden Club and Historical Society.
Chic was a strong supporter of her nieces, nephews,
grand-nieces and grand- nephews and loved visits with her
great-grand-nieces and great-grand-nephews. She was more than an Aunt;
she was a like-a-mother, like-a-grandmother and friend. She wore the
mantle of Matriarch of the family. She will always be remembered for
believing in them before they believed in themselves. We will miss her
immensely.
She is survived by her nieces, Cheryl MacRae, Brenda MacRae,
Terry Francis (the late Stephen Francis) and nephew, Rod MacRae
(Glenda), all of Great Village; nephew, Gary MacRae (Julie), Belize;
grand nieces, Allison Francis (Bjorn Merzbach), Amanda MacRae (Warren
Field); grand nephews, Michael Francis (Jonna), Jonathon Francis
(Hayley Chiasson), Kyle MacRae (Lija); great grand nieces, Alexis
Merzbach, Makayla Merzbach, Hannah Merzbach, Ryleigh Francis, Lily
Francis, Hailey Field, Emmy MacRae, Keili MacRae; great grand nephews,
Marshall Field, Kegan Field, Benson Francis; special like-family,
Natasha Tobin-Bejarono (Esther) and Brennyn Bejarono. Along with her
parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Lewis MacRae;
sister-in-law, Sheila MacRae; nephew-in-law, Stephen Francis; very
special friend, Betty Orchard.
Special thanks to her regular VON care-givers for making life
easier, as well as the Palliative Team of Dr. Cortney Smith and Angela
MacDonnell, her niece-in-law, Glenda MacRae and private care giver,
Rosemary Swanson.
Graveside service will be held 3:30
p.m., Sunday, July 18, 2021, at Mahon Cemetery, 8480 Highway 2, Great
Village, Reverend Valerie Kingsbury officiating.
If so desired, donations in Chic’s memory to Great
Village School and Community Playground or a charity of choice are
welcomed.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Mattatall – Varner
Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro. Private messages of condolence
may be sent to the family by viewing Chic’s obituary on-line
and selecting « Send A Condolence » at:
www.mattatallvarnerfh.com
Remembering Chic
You can shed tears that she is
gone,
or you can smile because
she lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that
she’ll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all
she’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you
can’t see her,
or you can be full of love you
shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and
live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because
of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that
she’s gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it
live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty
and turn your back,
or you can do what she’d
want:
Smile, open your eyes, love and go
on.
1923 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Bertha Elizabeth Chic MacRae 1923 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Truro, Province: Nova Scotia