Valerie Anne MacIsaac
Funeral service for the late Valerie Anne MacIsaac was held April 27 in St. Ninian Cathedral, Antigonish, with Father Donald MacGillivray officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Mrs. MacIsaac died April 22, 2019.
Readers at the funeral Mass were granddaughter Shainah MacFarlane, sister Joan Campbell, grandchildren Heather MacIsaac, Erin Gilfoy, Julia Delorey, Brett Delorey and Nicholas MacIsaac. Grandchildren Allie Gilfoy, Sophie Delorey, Cameryn MacIsaac and Andrew MacIsaac presented the offertory gifts. Music was provided by piper Scott Williams, organist/vocalist Emery van de Wiel, fiddler John Pellerin and daughter Heather MacIsaac (whistle).
Pallbearers were Allan Brent MacIsaac, Brian MacIsaac, Bradley MacIsaac, Bobby MacIsaac, Kevin Gilfoy and Andy Delorey.
Honorary pallbearers were nurses of the ‘Mighty 36’.
Born April 21, 1942, in Sydney, Cape Breton, she was a daughter of the late Marguerite and Stanley MacGillivary. She was a proud Cape Bretoner who cherished her visits home to see her family. After graduating from Holy Angels High School at 17, she worked at Maritime Tel and Tel as an operator while waiting until she was old enough to enter nursing school. She attended St. Martha’s School of Nursing, graduating in 1963. She maintained a lifelong friendship with her classmates from the ‘Mighty 36’. One of her weekly highlights was her Friday luncheon with her nursing friends at the Maritime Inn. Although she loved her job as a registered nurse, she chose to stay at home and raised her family of eight children. She was involved in all aspects of her children’s life and took great pride in all their accomplishments. Her time was filled with watching highland dancing, hockey, soccer and basketball games, music festivals and piping competitions. She was one of the founding members of the Antigonish Highland Dancing Association and devoted many volunteer hours to local dance competitions. The Antigonish Highland Games was a highlight of her summer. She was the receptionist at her daughter Allana’s office. Her love and compassion for animals led to her involvement with local animal rescue organizations.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Allan MacIsaac; eight children, Allana (Kevin Gilfoy), Shaunna (Jim Shaw), Allan Brent (Sandra Northcott), Brian (Sarah Racicot), Leanne (Andy Delorey), Bradley, Bobby, Heather; 13 grandchildren, Shainah, Heather, Andrew, Brett, Julia, Erin, Sophie, Allie, Nicholas, Camryn, Keilan, Mia, Maddox; three sisters, Joan Campbell, Elaine MacEachern, Delores (Gary) Horne; two brothers, Gordon (Suzanne) MacGillivary, Wayne (Delores) MacGillivary.
She was predeceased by her stepfather, Max Buffett; two brothers-in-law, George Campbell, Dave MacEachern.
Memorial donations may be made to an animal charity of choice.
Online condolences: www.MacIsaacs.ca