Mary Elizabeth Gillis

Funeral service for the late Mary Elizabeth Gillis, 93, St. Ninian Street, Antigonish, was held December 1 in St. Ninian Cathedral, with Father Donald MacGillivray officiating. Mrs. Gillis died November 28, 2018 at home. Readers at the funeral Mass were granddaughters Sarah McKenzie, Jenna Cameron and Mairi McCarron. Granddaughters Mary Beth Mills, Krista Mills and great-grandsons Jack McCarron, Laughlin Mills and Charlie Mills presented the offertory gifts. Eucharistic minister was son-in-law Jim Berkvens. Music was provided by Emery Van de Wiel, Tom MacDonald and John Pellerin. Active pallbearers were grandsons Alex Mills, Devyn Gillis, Jack Gillis, David Gillis, Steven Gillis, Joey Berkvens, Duncan McCarron and Paul McCarron. Honorary pallbearers were grandchildren Krista Mills, Mary Beth Mills, Sarah McKenzie, Kerry Berkvens, Ria Berkvens, Ben Gillis, Jenna Cameron, Ally Gillis, Melissa MacLellan, Mairi McCarron and Ryan McCarron. Born August 2, 1925, in Ballantyne’s Cove, she was a daughter of the late Sandy Malcolm and Mary Kate (MacDougall) MacEachern. A woman of enduring faith, she was a lifetime member of St. Ninian’s CWL. She was an avid fan of the Antigonish Jr. Bulldogs and the Toronto Maple Leafs. She and her late husband, Ronald, ran the Antigonish County Jail for 30 years. She spent countless hours and many sleepless nights making meals and caring for those in her charge - many times using her own funds to buy them the necessities they couldn’t afford - all while raising eight children of her own. In her later years, she found great joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all they achieved. She loved to sit and knit mittens for immediate and extended family, which included children from all across the county. She is survived by three daughters, Dianne (Jim Mills), Camille (Jim Berkvens), Kerry Ann (John Hugh McCarron), all of Antigonish; five sons, Gerard, Allister (Mary), Jimmy (Molly), Allan (Maria), John Hugh (Ann), all of Antigonish; 19 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister, Margie Adams, Scarborough, Ontario; brother, Malcolm MacEachern, Antigonish. She was predeceased by her husband, Ronald; three brothers, Hugh Bernard, Gillis, Albert; sister, Angeline Grant; brother-in-law, John Adams; sister-in-law, Joan MacEachern. Memorial donations may be made to Ewings Cancer Foundation of Canada Endowment Fund. Online condolences: www.MacIsaacs.ca