MacDonald (White), Carmel - wife, mother, grandmother, friend
It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that the family announces her death November 24th at Chaleur Regional Hospital, Bathurst, NB. Born in Bathurst in 1928, she was the daughter of Harold Vincet and Mary Brigid White and Niece of John Power, North Tetegouche NB. Following the death of her father in 1935, she moved to Halifax NS with her mother and brother. She attended Mount Saint Vincent Academy and Dalhousie University graduating in 1950 with her BA. She worked for radio station CJCH as librarian and assistant to Station Manager Findlay MacDonald Sr. and radio announcers Danny Gallivan and future NS Premier Gerald Regan. In 1951 she travelled to Boston and completed her Diploma Program in Health Records Administration at the Massachusetts General Hospital that led to a career in Hospital Records Management. Following graduation, Mom was hired to teach at the newly founded School of Health Records at the Halifax Infirmary and later as Manager of Medical Records at the Camp Hill Hospital in Halifax. She met her future husband, World War 2 veteran and church organist, Joseph MacDonald and was married in 1959. She was blessed with her four children John, Mary, Anne and Margaret.
Although she grew up, married and started her family in Halifax, Bathurst NB was always home. Upon the death of her uncle, John Power, Mom and Dad decided to return to Bathurst and moved to the family farm in North Teteagouche in 1975. She immediately embraced her new life as a farm wife where she, Dad and children worked to renovate the family farmhouse and bring a heritage apple orchard back into production. In 1978 she returned to her Health Records career and was Director of Health Records at Chaleur Regional Hospital until her retirement in 1993. In retirement she worked hand and hand with Dad on the farm. She loved to travel and visited across Canada and the USA, Ireland, Great Britain and Europe. She was passionate about Duplicate Bridge playing several times weekly in Bathurst and tournaments throughout the Maritimes and Quebec. Her other passion was baseball. Mom attended her first major league game in Cincinnati Ohio in the early 1950’s, and over the years at Fenway in Boston, Jarry Park, Montreal and Spring Training in Florida. Once a Red Sox fan she followed the Blue Jays right up to their pennant run this fall. Mom was very much Irish and was an executive member of the Irish Canadian Cultural Association of New Brunswick. Following several trips to the birthplace of her grandmother in Milltown, County Galway, she pursued and became an Irish Citizen in 1995. She was a 50 year member of the Holy Family Catholic Women's League and member of the Herman J. Good, V.C. Br. 18, Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Bathurst.
Predeceased by her parents, brother, Varrily and uncle John Power, Carmel is survived by her husband of 57 years, Joseph (Joe), her 4 children, John(Beatrice) Halifax, Mary(Murray) Kyle Bathurst, Anne Jennings, Bathurst and Margaret MacDonald North Tetegouche, NB, grandchildren, Greg, Angus and Henry MacDonald, Halifax, Doug and Julia Kyle and Tim Jennings, Bathurst, brother in law Dan (Nancy) MacDonald, Fox Point NS and sister in law Patricia (Jerrold) Guilliams, Perryville MO, USA.
Funeral services have been entrusted to Elhatton’s Funeral Home, Bathurst. Wake and Vigil will be on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place from Holy Family Church, St Peter Ave, Bathurst, at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 28, 2016.
The family wishes to thank the nurses, doctors and palliative care team at Chaleur Regional Hospital, Extra Mural Care NB and her caregivers Suzanne, Misty and Carm for the excellent care and compassion during her illness. She fought a good fight and now is with the Lord in heaven. "May eternal rest be granted to her and let perpetual light shine upon her" Memorial donations can be made to the Palliative Care unit at Chaleur Regional Hospital, Extra Mural or charity of your choice.
An Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sunshine warm upon your face. May the rains fall upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
