Mercedes Elizabeth Craig
AS WRITTEN BY MERCEDES’S BROTHER ROLY
Mercedes Elizabeth (MacIntyre) Craig was born on October 15,
1945, to George and Jessie MacIntyre from West Royalty,
Prince Edward Island. Mercedes is an old Scottish name that
has been in the MacIntyre family for over 250 years. She is
a direct descendant of the MacIntyre’s who came
from South Uist in Scotland on the ship Alexander in 1772 and
landed in Scotchfort, P.E.I.
She was raised on a small farm in West Royalty, Prince Edward
Island and
attended a two-room school. The farmhouse she
was raised in had no central
heat, no hot water, and no
bathrooms. Well, that’s not exactly true. We did have
an outdoor toilet and our toilet paper really was a used
Eaton’s Catalogue.
Mercedes grew up used to hard work and it reflected in her
personality. She
would give you an opinion on any subject
whether you wanted it or not. Some
would say she was
outspoken, but we would like to think she was just
opinionated. In fact we all knew she liked her own
advice.
Her navigation skills were not the best. She could get lost
in her own back yard.
She didn’t mind it at all
and thought it just added to the experience of the trip. I
have never known anyone else who went on a trip to Saint John,
New Brunswick,
as she did with her best friend Ruby Moore,
and ended up in Fredericton and
then laughed about it and
said they had a great day.
She liked to smoke long after most people had quit. At least
one time in recent
years she decided to quit after pressure
from her doctor and her family. We were
all proud of her
commitment. That was until we found out she didn’t
quit
smoking, she just quit telling us. When I asked her
when she was quitting, she
told me she would for sure when
she died. I told her I was going to put on her
headstone
“Here lies Mercedes Craig, she finally quit smoking.” I
won’t tell
you what she said she was going to put
on mine.
When Mercedes could no longer live on her own, she moved to
Burnside
Community Care in Clyde River where her sister
Mary was already living. They
were best buddies and between
the two of them kept the place humming.
Mercedes knew
everyone in the building and had a nick name for each of them.
If
there was a stir going anywhere in the building Mercedes
was either a part of it or
the cause.
The staff told us after Mercedes passed that they will truly
miss her, and the place
would never be the
same.
We watched in awe as her sister Mary facetimed Mercedes in
her hospital bed at
a point in time when Mercedes was no
longer responsive. Mary wanted to say
goodbye and
couldn’t make it to the hospital. Sitting there watching we
just
knew Mercedes was aware and was some how getting the
message.
Mercedes left this world with her family and her best friend,
Ruby Moore, by her side. You could see the love her family had for
their mother and grandmother. Her family was her life, and she was so
proud of them and their accomplishments.
She is survived by her children and grandchildren, Thane
(Kathie), Aiden and Liam; Sandy (Clark) Parsons, Brandon, Laurel
(Nick), Sarah (Janson); Mike and Chris (Beth), Roman and
Lainey.
The family would like to thank Drs O’Neill, Cheverie and
Morais, as well as the nurses and staff at the QEH who helped with her
care. A special thanks to Burnside Community Care and Nurse
Practitioner Jennifer Wood.
Mercedes went through life’s journey on her own terms and
will be missed by many. With her passing her name Mercedes is finally
gone from the MacIntyre family history. It seems only fitting. Rest in
peace Mercedes (MacIntyre) Craig.
A celebration of life will be held at the Crapaud Curling
Club from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, August 1st. All are
welcome.
Donations in memory of Mercedes may be made to the Cat Action
Team of P.E.I. at www.cats-pei.ca the coalition to aid Feral Cats in
P.E.I.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mercedes Elizabeth Craig 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Crapaud, Province: I-P-E