Browse the obituary of residing in the province of Colombie britanique for funeral details
In loving memory ~
Nancy Burr Weaver Mackay passed gently from this life to the next on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Kootenay Lake Hospital, Nelson, BC. She was peaceful and surrounded by family and love.
Nancy lived 94 remarkable years. She was born in Schenectady, New York, on February 22, 1930, to Burr Starbuck Weaver and Gladys Chute Matthews Weaver. She grew up in Scotia, NY, often enjoying summers in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
From 1947 – 1951, Nancy attended McGill University in Montreal, where she received her BA in Arts in 1951, and met the love of her life, John (Mac) Mackay. She was employed by General Electric from 1951 to 1953 while John attended Medical school. The day after his last Medical School exam, they were married, on May 16, 1953. The newlyweds then moved to Detroit, Michigan for a year of internship before moving to Fruitvale BC, in 1954, where John served as the Village Doctor. John practiced family medicine in the Beaver Valley for several years, taking two time-outs for post-graduate studies in Internal Medicine – 2 years at the Lahey Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts (1957 – 1958), and 2 years at Queens University in Belfast, Ireland (1962 – 1964).
In 1964, the couple returned to Fruitvale and enjoyed raising their family in an idyllic neighborhood with lifelong friends. Nancy was delighted to become a Canadian Citizen on April 3, 1966, and celebrated that anniversary every year. John practiced Internal Medicine in Trail. Nancy managed everything! John and Nancy retired in 1991. At this time, they relocated full-time to their long-time Longbeach neighbourhood (near Balfour), and into the new home they had built for their retirement. In 2012 they moved to Nelson–first to High Street Place, then to Lakeview Village, and finally to Mountain Lake Senior Community–retaining the family home at “the lake”.
Nancy and Mac were humbled to be named Citizen of the Year in Fruitvale in 1988 in recognition of their active participation and outstanding community service in the growth of the Beaver Valley.
Nancy was an artist, a spinner and weaver, a gardener, an avid reader involved in a wonderful book club, served as a Grand Friend at Redfish School, and was active in Grans to Grans. She worshiped in the Anglican Church, served as a Stephen’s Minister, and was a faithful member of St. John’s (Fruitvale) and St. Michael’s Guild (Balfour). She cherished sunrises and nature and had many joyful adventures skiing, hiking, and canoeing with family and friends. Nancy was a woman of deep faith, abiding resilience, and strength.
Family and friends remember Nancy as kind, gentle, and generous, a woman who took the time needed to listen and support people to feel special and valued. She loved to have adventures, to stargaze, and to try new things. She was a deeply loyal friend and correspondent, always searching for the right card to send, the right words. A curious lifelong learner, Nancy enjoyed Learning in Retirement courses and discoveries everywhere. She loved looking things up and stretching her mind. A trip to the Observatory B&B in Osoyoos in 2022, where she made her way up steep steps to the telescope dome, then climbed up a ladder to the telescope to marvel and gaze at the planets, moon, sun, stars, and galaxies.
When she graduated from Scotia High School in 1947, her yearbook “Destiny” said she would be a hostel owner in the Swiss Alps. Nancy enjoyed travel across Canada with many great adventures, as well as extensive international travel including the Swiss Alps! Europe, England, Ireland, Scotland, Texas. Her international travels also included volunteering with Rotary International in Honduras, Guatemala, Peru, Nepal, New Zealand, and Australia. Two of her passions with Rotary in Central America included Market Children and Safe Stoves initiatives. In 2019 Nancy and Mac received Lifetime Rotary Memberships.
And then there’s music. Nancy played piano, especially Schumann, with a gentle touch. She enjoyed her harmonica, though not as compulsively as her husband. Along with Mac, she helped start the Second Winds Music Group, who continue to share musical joy weekly with Nelson community seniors. At age 80, she learned to play the guitar. Nancy, Mac, and daughter Jane attended Fiddle Camp for 7 years in a row, accompanying lilting tunes with enthusiasm. She was a valued member of the Mountain Lake House Band, and almost always had a song in her head when she woke in the morning, humming it on her way to breakfast.
Nancy is survived by her daughter Jane (Andrew) and son Duncan (Tracey), 8 Grandchildren (Michael, Ian, Kieran, Annika, Charlie, Chelsea, Darin, Brent), 8 Great Grandchildren, extended family, and countless friends.
Nancy will be greeted in the next life by her parents, beloved husband Mac (2020), son Ian (1977), and many dear family members and friends.
Nancy’s funeral will be at 1 pm, June 30, 2024, at St. Savior’s Anglican Church (701 Ward St., Nelson).
This will be followed by a Celebration of both Nancy & her Husband, John (Mac) Mackay’s life in Nelson from 3 – 5 pm. Nancy requested donations in place of flowers to the charity of your choice.
Nancy’s family extends deep gratitude to the Team at Mountain Lake, and to Dr. Lee MacKay and the KLH Team for their unfailing compassion, care, and kindness.
Nancy loved sunrises, light, clouds, and morning coffee. She showed us all how to live with style, resilience, generosity, grace, and gentle kindness. And she made really good cookies.
Saturday May 11th 2024
Death notice for the town of: Nelson, Province: Colombie britanique
death notice Nancy Mackay Saturday May 11th 2024
obituaries notice Nancy Mackay Saturday May 11th 2024
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Nancy Mackay Saturday May 11th 2024 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
