MacDonald, Mary Jessie
(MacKinnon) of Queensville, Inverness County, died
April 5th, 2022. Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Educator to all. A
lifelong student. Mom loved animals (especially her horses),
her family, and her community. She had a green thumb, and loved
flowers. If you needed help, she was your first stop.
Educated in Mabou, Mary Jess went on to Normal College at age
14, returning home to Queensville at 16 to teach in the one room
schoolhouse in which she began her own education. She continued her
studies at St FX, earning her BA, BEd, and MEd. She went on to earn
specialties in Reading and Special Education. Mary Jess served the
children of Inverness County for 37 years as teacher, Supervisor of
Special Education, and Assistant Superintendent of
schools.
After retirement she spent 24 years as the elected School
Board Member, Chair of the Strait Regional School Board, and President
of the Nova Scotia School Boards Assn. She held the position of
Student Teaching Supervisor for the University of Maine. If you lived
in Inverness County, your education was in someway impacted by Mrs.
MacDonald. Her lifelong passion for learning and education was
recognized in 2012 with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee
medal.
Mary Jess was predeceased by her husband, Edward “Red
Eddy”; daughter, Allena; father, Allan Charlie MacKinnon and
mother, Christy MacKinnon; brothers, Walter, Murdo, and Seward
MacKinnon; sister-in-law, Marie (Perley); nephews, Bradley and Perley
Hugh MacKinnon.
She is survived by daughters, Chrissi Lynch, Queensville; and
Murlana MacDonald (James Wadden), Moncton, NB; son, Dwayne MacDonald
(Trudy Dunphy), Stellarton; granddaughters, Erica (Charles Beaton),
Queensville; and Jaynie Lynch, Wisbech, UK; Mairi Breagh Wadden
(Alicia Bryant), New Brunswick; Megan Richards (Jared Webb), Trenton,
NS; Jessica Richards, Stellarton and Sophia Brooks, Sipekne’katik;
great-grandchildren, Autumn And Ivar; brother, Perley MacKinnon, Port
Hastings; and William MacKinnon, St. Catherine’s, ON; many
nieces, nephews, and cousins and her special little girls. Her nephew,
James MacKinnon was her very special sidekick and one of her favorite
crib partners.
MJ loved to sing, and graced churches and stages across Nova
Scotia.
So, as MJ would say, “Stick a feather in your cap and
come visit us”, to remember her, in Dennis Haverstock Funeral
home, Port Hawkesbury, from 2-8 p.m. Friday, April 8. Funeral will
take place in St. David’s United Church, Port Hastings,
Saturday, April 9 at 11a.m. with Sandi Irving
officiating.
Charitable donations may be made to the Strait RCE School
Breakfast Program, or St. David’s Church, Port
Hastings. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at:
www.haverstocks.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mary Jessie ‘Mary Jess’ MacDonald 1938 2022..
Dennis Haverstocks funeral homes
Death notice for the town of: Port-Hawkesbury, Province: Nova Scotia