Annie Isabel MacNeil

Funeral service for the late Annie Isabel MacNeil, 89, was held September 12 in Immaculate Conception Church, West Lake Ainslie, with Father Bernie MacDonald officiating. Mrs. MacNeil died September 8, 2018. Born September 29, 1928, and raised in Blackstone, she was a daughter of the late Dougald and Elizabeth (MacNeil) MacDonald. She graduated from St. Joseph’s Convent in Mabou. She married John Alex MacNeil in 1950 and raised 10 children on the farm in Blackstone. While raising her large family, she was also active in her church and community. She was a force in helping to keep the community hall going with card plays and darts. Once she got her license at 64, she could not be stopped. She was very social and traveled the surrounding area for card playing, bingo and darts. She made many new friends from her travels. A fall/stroke at 80 put a stop to her driving. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She is survived by daughter, Ann Marie (John Archie) Rankin; eight sons, Dougald (Wendy), Dan (Jan), James (Shirley), Bernie (Ethel), Francie (Elaine), Alex (Peggy), Phonsie (Sheila), Angus (Annajayne); 23 grandchildren, Melanie (James), Erin (Dillon), Ryan (Crystal), Jami-Dawn (Jason), Jeff (Charlene), Vanessa (Mitchel), Stephanie (Shawn), Matthew (Joanne), Michael (Adrianna), Allison (Michael), Brandon (Brenna), Ambrah (Damien), Coady (Donna), Merrick (Effie), Connor, Melissa (Fred), Courtney, Sarah, Bryanne (Darcy), Trevor (Stephanie), Mitchell (Karlee), Tanner, Jamieson; 15 great-grandchildren, Jayne Mary, Olivia, Owen, Kelsey, Izak, Ewan, Declan, Cole, Lucinda, Real, Rory, Benedict, Isla, Louie, Jackson; many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, John Alex MacNeil; son, Blaise; five sisters, Georgina (Joe), Catherine, Peggy (Campbell), Mary-Jessie (Bob), Sarah Margaret (Hughie); two brothers, John Alex (Mary), John Ronald (Peggy). Memorial donations may be made to Immaculate Conception Parish Cemetery Fund or Central Inverness Palliative Care Society.