Donald Bennett “Ben” MacDonald
1930-2017
Donald Bennett (Ben) MacDonald, 86, of Fredericton, NB,
passed away peacefully in the presence of family at Hospice
Fredericton on March 30, 2017. Born in Sydney, NS, he was the son of
the late Duncan Angus and Mary Alice (MacKinnon) MacDonald. Beloved
husband of Ida (Doucette) MacDonald for 62 years; devoted father of
Marie MacDonald (Kevin Backs), Heather MacDonald-Bossé
(Don), Deanna MacDonald Johns (Shane), and Chantelle MacDonald Newhook
(Todd); loving grandfather of Jessica Bossé (Marc-Etienne
Rodrigue), Emily Bossé, Bennett and Andrew Newhook, and
Elliott and Holly Johns; and great-grandfather to Felix Bennett
Bossé-Rodrigue. He is also survived by sister
Joanne Armstrong (Raymond) and sister-in-law Irene (Jack) MacDonald,
and will be missed by numerous nieces and nephews from both his and
Ida’s families. In addition to his parents, Ben was
predeceased by sisters Helen (Johnny) Ryan, Mary (Roy) Richardson, and
Jean (Leonard) Clark; brother Jack MacDonald (Irene); and cherished
niece and nephew Susan (Clark) Coombs and Allen
Armstrong.
In addition to being an avid reader, CBC radio listener, and
gardener, Ben enjoyed any engaging discussion—particularly
about history, current events, or hockey. Having spent
many hours in community service over his lifetime, he continued to
invest his time and energy into caring for and helping his family
during his well-earned retirement, supporting each of us in whatever
way he could. Ben’s warmth, humour and wisdom made
him a person whom others – including friends of his children
and grandchildren— turned to for advice and kind
guidance. To the end, he maintained his quick wit
and enjoyment of a good joke.
Ben’s 53-year career, first as an RCMP officer and
then as a lawyer practising in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, yielded
many rich experiences and interesting stories. He graduated
from St. F X University (Class of 1955) and Dalhousie
University Law School (Class of 1964). Between degrees, he served ten
years with the RCMP in New Brunswick, Ottawa, and Saskatchewan. Ben
met his wife while posted to the RCMP in Campbellton, and together
they embarked on a path that ultimately took them to Ottawa, ON;
Kamsack, SK; Halifax, NS; Yorkton, SK; Campbellton, NB; Fredericton,
NB and St. John’s, NL. After graduating from law
school, he entered private practice with a firm begun by fellow Cape
Bretoner W.H. Morrison, Q.C., in Yorkton , Saskatchewan, before
bringing the family home to the Maritimes to practice in Campbellton,
NB. He became a crown prosecutor in 1980, and continued working
part-time in that capacity for many years after “retiring”
in Fredericton in 1996.
Ben’s family gratefully thanks
his exceptional medical team, including the radiation oncologists led
by Dr. Terri Stuckless, and other doctors and nurses who treated him
at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s, NL;
his family doctors at Uptown Family Medicine in Fredericton,
along with palliative care physicians, Dr. Gowan, Dr. Sainz,
and Dr. MacDonald; the staff of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital
Palliative Care Unit and extra-mural program, and
the amazing nurses at Hospice Fredericton who were the epitome of
kindness and compassion.
Visitation will be from 7-9:00 pm on Monday, April 3 at
McAdam’s Funeral Home in Fredericton. A funeral
mass will take place on Tuesday, April 4, at 12:05pm at St.
Dunstan’s Church in Fredericton, with Father Bill Brennan
officiating. A reception will follow the service. Interment will take
place in the Hermitage Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice
Fredericton at hospicefredericton.ca/donate
or a charity of the donor’s choice.
www.mcadamsfh.com

Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Donald Bennett Ben MacDonald – 1930-2017.source

avis deces Donald Bennett Ben MacDonald – 1930-2017- avis mortuaire Donald Bennett Ben MacDonald – 1930-2017