ALLISTER NINIAN MACDONALD

Funeral service for the late Allister Ninian MacDonald, 89, Nicholson Court, Antigonish, was held December 2 in St. Ninian Cathedral with Father Peter MacDonald officiating, assisted by Fathers Donald MacGillivray, Angus MacGillivary and Elliott O’Neal. Burial was in St. Margaret of Scotland Cemetery, Arisaig. 

Mr. MacDonald died November 29, 2019, in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish.     

Readers at the funeral Mass were Therese Chisholm, Chelsy MacEachern Kate Chisholm, Patti Anne Tracey and Allie MacDonald. Caralena Tracey, Cynthia MacDonald, Julia MacDonald and Emma MacDonald presented the offertory gifts. Music was provided by Emery Van de Wiel.     

Active pallbearers were Grant Tracey, R.D. Chisholm, Allison Chisholm, Christie MacDonald, Connor MacDonald and Bryce MacDonald.     

Honorary pallbearers were former workers of Colin R. MacDonald Construction, and Anne MacGillivray, Mary MacDonald, Marion Oicle, Joan MacIsaac, Kevin McNeil and Luc Cote.     

Born November 29, 1930, in Antigonish and raised on east Main Street, he was a son of the late Colin R. and Catherine (MacDougall) MacDonald. It was here that he first encountered a young nursing student from New Waterford, who, in a few years, became his wife. He was a pillar in the construction industry in Nova Scotia. He started his career working for his father at Colin R MacDonald LTD. He and his brother, Colin ‘Junior’ MacDonald, took over the company and ran it for 50 years. He then went on to start ALVA Construction with his sons, where he continued to work, well into his 80s. He built many roads, wharfs, and bridges throughout Nova Scotia. In 2013, he was presented with an Honorary Membership by the Nova Scotia Road Builders Association for his reputation for skill, integrity and responsibility to the road building industry throughout his career. He also was a keen follower of politics, particularly the Liberal Party, who he supported all his life and was more than willing to conduct a debate with supporters of any opposing party. He loved to host family and friends at his summer residence in Arisaig.      

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Velma (Bates); five children, Colin (Denise), Creignish; Catherine (Duncan) Chisholm;  AG (Collette); Terese (Al) Tracey;  Allan (Bonnie), all of Antigonish; 17 grandchildren, Chelsy (Randy) MacEachern, Christie and Allister MacDonald; Terese, Allison, Kate and RD Chisholm; Morgan, Connor, Emma and Marcus MacDonald; Grant, Caralena and Patti-Anne Tracey; Cynthia, Bryce, and Julia MacDonald; two great-grandchildren, Rory, Tessa; two sisters, Kathleen (Joe) MacDonald, Montreal; Joan (Purnell) Choppin, Washington, DC; daughter-in-law, Madonna MacFarlane; sister-in-law, Ellen.     

He was predeceased by brother, Colin R MacDonald Jr.; sister, Marion MacDonald.     

Memorial donations may be made to St. Ninian St. Vincent de Paul or VON Antigonish.                

Online condolences: www.MacIsaacs.ca