Parcourez la nécrologie de Carmella Irene Gillis 2024 résidant dans la province Nova Scotia pour le détail des funérailles
Gillis,
Carmella Irene «Cammy», age 83, of Antigonish and formerly
of North Sydney, passed away on January 30, 2024, at
home.
Born in Glace
Bay in 1940, she was a daughter of the late Murdoch and Ida (Ward)
Matheson.
Cammy was the
6th of 17 children and the proud daughter of a Cape Breton coal miner.
She witnessed both parents work hard their whole lives; this work
ethic was imprinted on her and passed on to her family. Upon
relocating to North Sydney, she met Barry and married in 1967. They
went on to build a family and were very involved in church and
community life. Coming from a large family herself, Cammy easily and
happily embraced the ‘North Sydney Gillises’ and
became one of their own. Her in-laws became her dear friends, and she
steadfastly maintained those connections to her last day.
Barry’s siblings, spouses, and their families held a special
place in her heart, especially John and Rosaire
Young.
Along with
Barry, she was a long-time Cub and Scout leader, and she made positive
contributions to many of the youth in North Sydney. As her children
grew, there were countless hockey, baseball, basketball, and soccer
games, sailing regattas, piano and highland dance competitions, and
pipe band contests. She was able to travel to Scotland with the Gaelic
College Pipe Band when they won the World Championships in 1994, and
her fundraising efforts paved part of the way to get them
there.
Cammy treated
everyone the same, no matter their station in life. Before the idea of
‘inclusion’ was recognized as a human right, Cammy
led the way in North Sydney working with adults in this cherished
community. She had a special way of communicating with people and
ensuring they knew they were valued.
She was a
model for healthy living despite her often-daily struggle with kidney
disease. Sean gifted her with a ‘beautiful’ kidney
in 2006, and this greatly improved her quality of life and gave us
more years with her. We are indebted to him for
this.
Cammy was a
devout Catholic and a long-time parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church in
North Sydney where she participated in many ministries. Her later
years saw her delivering the Eucharist to shut-ins as well as enjoying
a deep involvement with the Catholic Women’s League. Here
she found the perfect blend of faith and friendship, and she treasured
these days.
Relocating to
Antigonish in 2020 to be closer to family, she and Barry developed new
friendships and were able to enjoy more time with their children and
grandchildren. Although she missed her Cape Breton friends, family,
and her church, her final years were full and happy and for this we
are forever grateful. Special thanks to Sean, Carla, and Grace
(«Gracie Lou») for easing this
transition.
She would say
her greatest accomplishment was her family. Both she and Barry modeled
faith, morality, hard work, the importance of helping others, and
contributing to the community. Cammy also loved sports and politics
and would talk about them to anyone who would listen. She was a
colorful commentator while watching sports, and was a loyal follower
of the NDP, having witnessed the struggles of miners in her formative
years. Her children grew up hearing about the importance of service
and as a result, all are employed in public service professions. She
was very proud of this.
She followed
the achievements of her children and grandchildren closely and was
sure to call family and friends with news, which she called her
‘press releases’. Her brother, and dear friend,
Blair, gave her the nickname ‘TeleCarmella’, and
how funny and accurate that was. She kept Canada Post in business with
cards as she wanted everyone in her family to be celebrated. Her sense
of humor was legendary, and how fortunate we are to inherit it. Her
last moments involved cleaning; how she would have loved
that!
She was a
tireless worker, supported many causes and took care of countless
people. Her unique blend of compassion and practicality brought
comfort to many in their final days.
She is
survived by her loving and devoted husband of 57 years, Barry;
children, Barry (Lisa),, Middle Sackville; Sean (Carla), Antigonish;
Thea (Mark) Campbell, Yellowknife, NT. As well, her dear grandchildren
Chad (Rachel), Mary (Connor), Grace, Nate, Alli, Seanie and Mairin.
More recently, she was delighted with updates on her great-
grandchildren, Nora and Elise. She shared a close bond with Lisa,
Carla, and Mark and was very happy her kids found wonderful partners.
Her family was her purpose in life, and we will miss Ma and
Grandmother terribly.
Cammy is also
survived by and will be deeply mourned by sisters, Dolores Young,
Ethel Tennant, Bernadette (Bill) Dixon, Ida (Ron) Winstanley, Bev
Matheson, and Maria (Jimmy) Tutty. Also, her brothers, Wayne (Josie)
Matheson, Bernie (Lois) Matheson, Blair (Germaine) Matheson, and
Reeves (Valerie) Matheson. ‘Carmella’ had a
special relationship with every sibling and loved them with all her
heart.
She will be
deeply missed by Barry’s surviving family: Rosaire (John)
Young, Ron (Nita) Gillis, Bernadette MacDougall, and Jeannie (Urs)
Schweizer.
Also left to
share fond memories are countless nieces and nephews, especially Cathy
Balah with whom Cammy shared a special
friendship.
She will be
happily reunited with her parents Murdoch and Ida Matheson; cousin,
Eugenie Matheson; brothers, Gerald, Paul, Owen, Sonny, Jimmy, and Mick
Matheson. Also, her Matheson in-laws Yvonne Matheson, Judy Matheson,
John Young, and John Tennant.
Also waiting
for her are Barry’s family, Martin and Nora Gillis, Wilma
and Lloyd Balah, Florence and Allan Gillis, Regina, Mary and Father
Joe Gillis and, brothers-in-law, Charlie MacDougall, Leroy MacDonald,
and Allan Gillis.
Many
treasured extended family and friends have gone before her who we know
are enjoying her company once again.
Special
thanks to Shirley MacPherson and Monica Sullivan, her
‘Antigonish Friends’ who became treasures to
Cammy. To the Antigonish RCMP and Emergency Services, thank you for
your compassion and professionalism.
A celebration
of Cammy’s life will be held in North Sydney at a later
date.
In Memoriam,
donations to the North Sydney Food Bank would be appreciated. Barry
was a longtime volunteer.
Arrangements
are under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home, Antigonish and
W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, North Sydney. Online condolences
can be left at clcurry.com.
In my Mother’s hand, mine
looks small and weak for I am new to this
world.
Yet with my hand in hers I feel no
fear. Her hand was always there as I grew,
Either to comfort me or to teach me,
depending on what I needed.
Now I am a parent and she is a
grandmother. When I see my children’s hands in
hers
I feel no fear. Life has gone full
circle now. As she is small and weak and I am strong.
I
sit beside her scared of what the
future may hold. But when I look down, it is my
hand
that is small in hers. And,
I feel no fear and know I never
will,
for my hand will forever
be
In my Mother’s
hand.
2024
Décès pour la Ville Antigonish, Province Nova Scotia
avis deces Carmella Irene Gillis 2024
nécrologie Carmella Irene Gillis 2024
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Carmella Irene Gillis 2024 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.