Grant Valentine MacDonnell
Funeral service for the late Grant Valentine MacDonnell, 75, Antigonish, was held May 18 in St. Ninian Cathedral with Father Donald MacGillivray officiating. Burial was in St. Ninian Cemetery.
Mr. MacDonnell died May 10, 2019.
Readers at the funeral Mass were Gordon Barker and Jacqueline van Wijlen. Shelley Stewart, Alice Mattie and Barbie Bowie presented the offertory gifts. Music was provided by Ty Wallace and Joseph MacDonnell.
Urn bearers were John MacDonnell, Maggie MacDonnell and Joseph MacDonnell.
Honorary urn bearer was Claire MacDonnell.
Born April 17, 1944, he was a son of the late Ella Mae (Grant) and Colin Francis MacDonell. He was a proud graduate of St. Mary’s University, with both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degree. He enjoyed a long career in education at the Nova Scotia Community College and made a lasting impact on his students and colleagues. Upon retirement, he ran a small business, MacDonnell Wood Fuels, and took great pleasure in working outdoors and visiting with his customers. He was the past president of the Antigonish Liberal Association and reveled in talking politics and reading history. Always curious and outgoing, he took up Gaelic classes, enjoyed playing the guitar, loved fiddle music, card games, and dances. He instilled a love of music, sports, conversation, education, and a reverence for nature into his children. He found total joy in his grandchildren and spent endless hours at the rink, showering them with treats, playing games, and reading stories.
He is survived by his wife, Veronica MacGillivary; four children, Claire, Joseph, Maggie (Dullah), John (Jacqueline); the mother of his children, Aurelia (Chiasson) MacDonnell; four stepchildren, Vernon (Rose) MacGillivary, Michelle (Blaise) Dobbin, Tara (Duane) Arsenault, Ryan (Jaymie) MacGillivary; three grandchildren, Lucassie, Maggie Mae, Zelabella; 11 step-grandchildren; two sisters, Anna Hyde, Sister Margie MacDonell; sister-in-law, Catherine (Kevin) Bonvie; niece and nephew, Alanna Russell, Michael Hyde and their families.
He was predeceased by brother, Danny; brother-in-law, Max Hyde.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Foundation or Cape Breton Cancer Centre.
Online condolences: www.clcurry.com