Colin Joseph MacDonald
1932-2021
MacDonald, Colin Joseph, 88,
died suddenly on February 11, 2021 at the QEII Heath Sciences Centre
in Halifax, five days after a serious fall at
home.
The firstborn son of Billy Colin MacDonald and Kitty
MacFarlane, Colin was born and lived his whole life in beautiful James
River, Antigonish County with his beloved wife of 52 years, Ann
(Duff). He was the proud father of five and devoted
grandfather of six, who stretch across the country: Bill, his wife
Shannon (Muir) and their children Flora and Marie, Edmonton, AB; Karen
(the Doc) Antigonish; Kelly, her husband Joe Muise, and their children
Patrick and Heather, New Westminster, BC; and Cameron, his wife Tanya
(McNeil), and their children Amy and Ryan, Ottawa, ON.
Colin was predeceased by his parents, his in laws
John and Ethel Duff, his sister Ann (wife of Donnie Steele), and Ann,
his infant daughter. He will be sorely missed by his sister
Mary Lillian (Antigonish), his brother Ronald (wife Ann Marie), his
sisters Tena, Catherine, CND (Sydney), Eunice (husband Tony McKinley,
London, Ontario), Willena (husband John Budris, New York), brother
Roddie (wife Brenda) and sister Maggie, most of whom were blessed to
live just down the road in James River. He was the beloved
uncle to many nieces and nephews and was a faithful friend to so
many.
Colin worked as a CN operator for 38 years, delivering
important messages by Morse Code in his early career and helping many
a weary, laden traveler. He was a lifelong member of St.
Joseph’s Church, serving in the choir and parish council,
organizing dances, and, in his later years, faithfully counting the
collection money each week with Jerome Grant. Colin loved
playing cards and attended numerous card plays around the county,
often being driven by his generous neighbor Myrtle MacDonald. He had
lots of fun with his card playing buddies and loved getting the
news. A master jam maker, Colin delighted in making and
giving away countless bottles of jam. Baseball was
Colin’s favourite sport, he played in his youth, coached the
Nova Scotia Provincial Champions in 1958, served as an umpire, and
spent many late nights cheering on his wonderful St. Louis
Cardinals. He was also a long suffering Toronto Maple Leafs
fan. He enjoyed listening to the fiddle, especially the
music of Buddy and Natalie MacMaster, and, with his excellent memory,
was a wonderful storyteller. He was also an avid traveler, enjoying
many trips to New York to visit his sister and aunts, to Ontario to
visit his sister and the Duff family, and to Australia, Alaska, and
the Bahamas with their great friends Elmer and Peggy
Williams. He and Ann crisscrossed the country in his later
years visiting their beloved children and grandchildren, never missing
an important event.
Colin had a huge heart and touched so many lives with his
kindness, his frequent teasing, his laughter and sense of
fun. He loved following the rhythms of the farm, planting
his garden, feeding the birds and squirrels, and for a few years, a
flock of wild turkeys. A true Scotsman, he was stubborn, set
in his ways, and was so careful not to waste anything, but incredibly
generous with what he had. He served God and his family,
friends and neighbours every day of his blessed and long life. He gave
thanks to God through daily prayer with grace at meals, rosary with
Ann and faithful participation in the Holy Mass. We will miss him
terribly but are so grateful for his life and witness as a good
Catholic man. We entrust him to the infinite mercy of God.
May we all meet again one day in our Eternal Home.
Visitation in C.L. Curry Funeral Home, 135 College Street,
Antigonish on Wednesday, February 17th, from 2
to 4 and 7 to 9 pm following Covid 19 guidelines. A private
funeral will be held in St. Joseph’s Church, St.
Joseph’s on Thursday. Burial in St.
Joseph’s Cemetery at a later date. We deeply
regret that all who desire to attend his funeral cannot be physically
present. We are consoled in the knowledge that whenever we pray and
attend Mass, we are united as branches of the same vine under the
tender loving care of Our Lord. A livestream link to the funeral Mass
will be provided on this obituary on Thursday at 11:00
am.
The family would like to thank the paramedics who came to our
home, the St Martha’s Emergency Department staff, the staff
of the Halifax Infirmary, Site 7.3 and Pastoral Care, the ICU
Resuscitation Team, and Dr. John Chiasson, Colin’s family
doctor.
Memorial donations can be made to the SJ Hillside Cemetery
Association, 1013, Hwy #4, Antigonish, NS B2G 2K8, St.
Martha’s Regional Hospital Foundation, 25 Bay Street,
Antigonish, NS and L’Arche Antigonish, 4 West Street,
Antigonish, NS B2G 1R8. Online condolences:
www.clcurry.com.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Colin Joseph MacDonald 19322021..
Death notice for the town of: Antigonish, Province: Nova Scotia