Donald L. MacDonald

Funeral service for the late Donald L. MacDonald, 78, Heatherton, Antigonish County, was held May 25 in Immaculate Conception Church, Heatherton, with Father Andrew Gillies officiating, assisted by Deacon Art Riley. Burial was in the parish cemetery. Mr. MacDonald died May 21, 2018, in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish. Readers at the funeral Mass were niece and goddaughter Ann-Marie Etheridge, sister Dorothy Greencorn and grandchildren Jean, Ellen and Michael MacDonald. Bria MacDonald, Adrienne Hayne and Dante MacDonald presented the offertory gifts. Altar servers were Frank Machnik and Shaun Machnik. Music was provided by Tyrus Wallace and granddaughter Shannon Muir. Pallbearers were Bruce MacDonald, Andrew MacDonald, Brian MacDonald, Edmund MacDonald, David MacDonald and Jonathan MacDonald. Born May 14, 1940, in Antigonish, he was the eldest son of the late Willie Dan and Ann Bernardine (Chisholm) MacDonald. Raised on the family farm in Fraser’s Grant, he attended Fraser’s Grant School, St. Andrew Rural High, Nova Scotia Agricultural College and, in 1964, graduated from Macdonald College in Montreal. He had a 30-year career with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, the first two in Cape Breton then 28 in Antigonish. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, Nova Scotia Institute of Agrology, the Hunter’s Club, the Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition and a number of other farm-related organizations. He was a supporter of 4-H and enjoyed working with 4-H calves, fishing, gardening, spending time at the camp with his friends and hunting – especially the moose hunt. He played hockey and baseball, enjoyed curling and was an avid fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Ellen (Fougere); six sons, Bruce (Nancy Chisholm), Timberlea; Brian (Estelle Arbing), Sussex, New Brunswick; David (Joanne Thérien), Montreal, Quebec; Andrew (Phyllis Connors), Quispamsis, N.B.; Edmund (Leah MacPhail), Fraser’s Grant; Jonathan (Kendra Bailey), Heatherton; six daughters, Bernardine (David) Muir, Dorchester, Ontario; Jocelyn (Mike) Brunet, Russell, Ont.; Melanie (Joe) Ballard, Truro; Diana (Jamie) Hayne, Dunmore; Sharon (Kyle) Nowlan, Iqaluit, Nunavut; Elise (Troy) Fisher, Cornerbrook, Newfoundland; 24 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; two sisters, Dorothy (Spencer) Greencorn, Heatherton; Frances (Kenneth) Brymer, Boylston; three brothers, Eddie (Margie), Heatherton; Billy, Fraser’s Grant; Ambrose (Doreen), Afton; 24 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one sister, in infancy; sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Howie Etheridge; niece, Jill Brymer. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice. Online condolences: www.clcurry.com