Gillis, Sarah Catherine (Sadie) 89, of Liverpool, NS, formerly of Sydney Mines passed away peacefully in Queen’s General hospital on Feb. 18, 2010 surrounded by the love of family. Born on January 25, 1921 in Benacadie, Cape Breton, Sadie was the daughter of the late Neil R. and Sarah Catherine MacNeil. Blessed with a huge heart and a great capacity to love, Sadie followed her desire to care for others by becoming a nurse, graduating from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in 1944 with Provincial academic honours. Everyone benefitted from Sadie’s nurturing medical attention – patients, family, friends, relatives of friends, neighbours, neighbourhood children and even the occasional pet. She will be remembered for her compassionate, caring, and generous spirit, her love of skating, intellectual puzzles of all kinds, her wicked sense of humour and her never ending ability to find the good in everything. Although failing health necessitated a move from her beloved Cape Breton in 2007 to be closer to family, Sadie built a whole new network of friends and fans in Queen’s Manor. She was immensely proud of her Scottish heritage (MacNeil of Barra) and her first language Gaelic. She was still quoting Gaelic poetry on her birthday (Robbie Burns day) this year. Sadie was predeceased by her husband Lawrence and son Michael; brothers Roddie, Rannie, Neil, James, and sister Christina. She is survived by her sons Gerard, Yellowknife; Neil, Toronto, Christopher (Becky), Brampton; daughters Cathy MacDonald, Bedford; Sharon (Gerry) Mason, Mill Village; sister Ann Higgins, Fredericton; grandchildren Andrew, Peter, Geoffrey, Sarah, Nigel, Christopher, Vanessa, Sarah; dear and special friends Mary and Clifford Hall. Visiting will take place on Sunday Feb 21, 2010 2–5 pm in Francis Funeral Home, Main St. Sydney Mines; Funeral mass Monday Feb 22 at 10am Immaculate Conception Church, Sydney Mines, Father J.J. MacDonald presiding. Special thanks to everyone at Queen’s Manor Liverpool, the nursing staff at Queen’s General, especially Janet Himmelman; and Dr. Garry Morash. Family flowers only. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ronald C MacDonald MBA Scholarship at St. Mary’s University, www.smu.ca/administration/development/gift.html; 1888.SMU.GIVE; the Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke, other charities of your choice; or just be true to Sadie’s spirit and spread genuine kindness at every opportunity, that was her essence.
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Janet and George Fletcher
Sharon, We were sorry to hear about your mother. Our thoughts and our prayers are with you and your family.
Brenda Craig (Queens Manor)
To Sadie’s family,I wish to express my sincere sympathy to you all.I will miss her dearly and all the stories she told.Sadie was a very beautiful lady and was very much loved by the nursing staff at Queens Manor…When I reached out to touch her hand ,she touched my heart…Rest in peace dear lady..God bless, Brenda
Bertha Gerhardt
To Sharon,Gerry/And Geofrey.and Sarah:I didn’t get to know Sadie very well but she always seemed to enjoy it when I was at the Manor Love from Bertha
Peggy Tremblett
Dear Sharon and Gerry and family,
May the sadness and pain your heart feels today, soon turn to precious memories shared by you and your family as time moves on. Sharon, please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of your mom, Sadie. I so understand the hurt. I did not know her other than to see her smiling at the Manor and I saw that she was loved and cared for by all.
Please Take care
Peggy
Elaine Frail
Sharon and family:
I read your mother’s obituary in the morning paper. Please know I am thinking about you and will keep you in my prayers.
Heartfelt sympathy,
Elaine Frail
Gordon and Anne Peverill
Our sincere condolences on your loss.
Lorne and Barb Redmond
Dear Sharon, Gerry, Sarah and Geoffrey,
Our sincerest sympathy on the loss of your wonderful mother and grandmother. The picture in the paper showed her to be a beautiful woman.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time.
Gerald Keddy, MP
Dear Sharon, Gerry and family,
I wish to extend my sincerest condolences to you and your family.
Your mother, Sadie, will be deeply missed and respectfully remembered by her friends and family.
Sincerest Regards,
Gerald Keddy
Laurie-Anne Brown
Sharon, Gerry, Sarah & Family.
While working at Queens Manor I have had the pleasure of spending alot of leisure time with Sadie, I must say every moment spent with her was a joy, she was such a comedian and kept us all laughing, she had a real zest for life, and every program that she attended she contributed in such a positive way, she will be greatly missed, she was a very special lady.
Regards,
Laurie-Anne Brown
Recreation
Joyce & Vernon Hawkes
We would like to express our heartfelt sympathy To Sharon, Gerry
and family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.