Obituary
John Edward “Jack” MacKay
Sydney/North Sydney
It is with sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of John Edward “Cadillac Jack” MacKay, age 77, on Friday, March 26, 2021, in the palliative care unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital after a long battle with Parkinson disease and dementia.
Jack was born and grew up on Archibald Avenue in North Sydney and was the only child of the late John (Jack) and Dorothy (MacPherson) MacKay.
He had been residing at the Northside Community Guest Home since September of 2020, previously in assisted care at Rideout House and prior to that, on Leeside Drive in Coxheath.
Jack graduated from Thompson High School in North Sydney and later attended Mount Allison university.
He held different jobs over his lifetime including CNR and Air Canada and finally settled into his twenty-plus years career with Xerox Canada. During his time there he excelled in sales and became known as the “Chief” as he was looked up to by his co-workers for his ability to achieve top sales awards. The job also allowed he and his wife Gloria to travel extensively and see the world.
Jack was a member of St. Matthew Wesley United Church in North Sydney and also of the Brotherhood of Masons.
Jack’s greatest passion was his vehicles and people would wait for him to trade them in, as they knew they would be in pristine condition with low mileage. He made daily trips to the car wash to ensure the dirt never stayed on his vehicles for long.
Jack is survived by his cousins June Gaston, Quebec; Dana Digout, St. Peters; Earl MacPherson, North Sydney and Gilbert McKay, New Glasgow. He is also survived by Gloria Bennett, North Sydney, who he truly loved and adored and by his good friends, Marlene and Charlie Bond, who Jack adopted as family and enjoyed many years of being part of the big family with their children and grandchildren.
Jack was very fortunate to have a great support system that enabled him to be as independent as possible. Many thanks to his family doctor and longtime friend, Dr. Jim MacKillop, Dr. Andrew Xiad of the Geriatric Clinic and to the nursing staff at Rideout House, especially Laurel and Julie who were Jack’s angels.
When Jack needed additional help, we found Romy, Nav, Aastha and Harman to provide additional home care. Of course, Jack liked to make sure everyone knew he had the last say, but they treated him like he was their father and took great care of him. After a fall last June, he spent three months in the hospital until placement in Northside Community Guest Home became available. Many thanks go out to Bernadette Confiant, social worker on 4B, who worked tirelessly to make this move happen. The staff at the Northside Guest Home welcomed Jack with open arms and to say he was treated well would be an understatement.
Memorial donations to the Northside Community Guest Home or Hospice/Palliative Care of Cape Breton would be appreciated.
In Jack’s honour, a visit with an elderly or ailing friend or relative would make this world a better place.
A funeral service will take place 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home Chapel, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney, with Marjorie Serafinus officiating. Covid-19 protocol regarding the wearing of masks, social distancing and limited seating for the service will be in place.
For anyone who is unable to attend the service, it will be live streamed on the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home Facebook page.
Burial will take place at a later date in Lakeside Cemetery, North Sydney.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.wjdooley.com
“There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved”.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jack MacKay, please visit our floral store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Jack MacKay December 8 1943 March 26 2021 (age 77)..
Death notice for the town of: North-Sydney, Province: Nova Scotia