Hillegonda ‘Hilda’ Albertha MacDonald
1925-2020
MacDONALD (Bolding), Hillegonda
Albertha – It is with great sadness
that we announce the passing of our mother Hillegonda ‘Hilda’ Albertha
MacDonald after a brief and sudden illness. She passed away peacefully
with her children at her side on Sunday, August 23,
2020.
Born August 10, 1925 in Beilen (Drente) Holland, she was the
daugher of Roelof and Aafje Bolding. Mom came to Canada as a War Bride
in July 1946, arriving at Pier 21 on the Aquitania.She lived in Port
Hawkesbury with our dad and had 10 children, 19 grandchildren and 28
great-grandchildren. Throughout her 95 years Oma maintained her strong
Dutch will and pride in her heritage. Among other things, this was
most evident in the beautiful array of flowers she
raised annually, seemingly without effort. She
was the last surviving member of her
family.
She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and after
her husband died she enjoyed volunteering with the church in the
capacity as an altar server for funerals. She also volunteered with
the St. Joseph’s Bereavement group in the mid 90’s, and was a past
member of the Palliative Care Program at Strait Richmond Hospital in
the early 90’s. She enjoyed her Tim Horton’s coffee and socializing
with her friends regularly to the local Tim’s. In her later years Mom
was asked on several occasions to lay the wreath for the Motherhood of
Canada on Rememberance Day and on
one occasion was the
guest of honor and asked to speak at the veterans dinner on her
recollection of the war times in Holland. Mom was always so grateful
for the Canadians liberating the Dutch people during
WWII.
Mom believed in the value of hard work and continuing
education. She fostered an independent spirit in all of her children
for which we can be thankful. Her proudest accomplishment was that all
of her children pursued post-secondary education and went on to
professional careers, while at the same time raising their own
families and instilling her strong values along the
way.
Mom is survived by her children Dini (Vince) Gallant,
Calgary; Winnie (Ron) Richards, Sydney;Bruce (Jean) MacDonald, Sydney;
Veronica (Ed) Ritcey, Campbell River, B.C.; Annette (Charles) Moar,
Port Hawkesbury; Marina (Dale) Fuller, Medicine Hat A.B; Heather
(Tori) Engum, Penticton, B.C., Corinne (Darrell) Beaton, Fall River,
Ken (Tammy) Calgary, A.B. She was predeceased by her husband Bruce in
1993, her son Arnold and grandson James Bruce Ritcey, her sister Diny
Vedder, Eindhoven NB Holland and brother Arnold, Brockville,
Ont.
The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday,
August 25, 2020 at the Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home in Port
Hawkesbury. Funeral Service will be held at
2:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in
Port Hawkesbury with Father Conrad Edwards officiating. Interment in
the parish cemetery.
Donations in memory of Hilda may be made to the St. Joseph’s
Cemetery Fund or a charity of your choice. Words
of comfort may be forwarded to the family
at www.haverstocks.com.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Hillegonda ‘Hilda’ Albertha MacDonald 19252020..
Dennis Haverstocks funeral homes
Death notice for the town of: Port-Hawkesbury, Province: Nova Scotia