February 3, 1945 – November 2, 2022
Whitney Pier/Halifax
Mae was born on February 3, 1945, to the late Catherine Morrison at the home of the late Percy and Rachael (aka Buddy) Barnes, 119 Tupper Street in Whitney Pier, Nova Scotia.
After her birth, our mom was raised by Percy and Buddy for approximately the first 12 years of her life. She then moved to Cornwallis Street to join the family of the late Ewen and Christina Morrison. As a young child growing up in Whitney Pier she was known by the name of ‘Mae Barnes’.
Mom returned to live in her beloved Whitney Pier in November 1973 and resided there until March 2017 when she and dad moved to Halifax due to health reasons.
Mom battled with Primary Aggressive Aphasia and Alzheimer’s over the past 8 years. She definitely put up a good fight. She passed away peacefully at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS in the early hours of November 2, 2022, with her loving daughter, Shelley by her side. Mom was surrounded and comforted by her family during her brief hospital stay.
Mae is survived by her children, Cathy (Bill Law), Shelley, and ‘her favourite’ and birthday twin, Darrell (Marion MacKinnon). Her precious grandchildren who were the light of her life, Alison Law (Nolan Dickson), Brandon Reid, and Madi Law; great-grandchildren, Trey Bond, William Bilsborrow-Reid and godchildren, Karen (Andrea) Crocker, Lori (MacLean) Morrison, and Sheri (MacLean) Stevens. Mae is also survived by her furry grandbabies, Reagan, Morgan and furry great-grandbabies, Echo, Davinchi, and Betty.
Mae also leaves behind her brother, Dan Andrea (late Stella); in-laws, Margaret MacLean, Hector and Marlene MacLean, Joe and Norma MacLean, and Lillian Mueller; special cousins, Rhoda MacLean, Janette Edge, James Grant and many wonderful and loving nephews, nieces, and cousins.
She will be dearly missed by many lifelong friends, neighbours, and co-workers especially Leah Walster, Glenda Sheppard, Dorothy Langlois and Margaret Smith.
Mae was predeceased by her husband, James ‘Dick’ MacLean in 2017 after 52 years of marriage; mother, Catherine Morrison; father, William Astles; maternal grandparents, Kenneth Morrison and Christine (Clark) Morrison; paternal grandparents, William Hector Astles and Margaret (McLaughlin) Astles; sisters, Georgina Crawford, Vi Whelan, Wanda Gallant, Margaret Tiller, Emily Morrison, and Evelyn Fewer; brothers, Ewen, Roy, Melvin, Edward and Billy; parents-in-law, James D. MacLean, Annie (MacDougall / MacLean) Royal, and Jack Royal; brother-in-law, Bernie MacLean; as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to being a wonderful mother to us plus our many friends, mom worked many types of jobs throughout her adult life. Her greatest passion was to work in the health care field. She started her health care career as a personal support worker and at age 56, she returned to school to study and become a provincially certified Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) and finished working in her health care career at MacGillivray Guest Home.
Mom was very talented and skilled in knitting, crocheting, quilt making, cooking, baking, cake decorating, interior decorating (with the exception that time in the mid 1970’s when she wallpapered the kitchen walls with hideous large orange flowers. Really?! What was she thinking!). She and dad were proud of their home and they always maintained / made improvements to the interior and exterior of it. Our family home was warm and inviting and had an open-door policy where friends and neighbours were always welcomed to stay for a beverage and a good feed and a warm bed if needed.
Mom loved to stay active whether she was volunteering with the Lions Club, UCT, exercising, learning a new crafting skill, or shopping at the VV or Giant Tiger. As Dad used to say ‘she was like the yellow line always on the road’.
She is a past member of Holy Redeemer Parish Council, Adult Choir, and CWL.
Our family is very thankful and grateful for the excellent care mom received in her final hours as a patient at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. We would like to thank her GP, Dr. Maria Yorke, for the exceptional medical care she provided to mom. Thank you to The Berkeley Bedford team for the wonderful care and attention mom received during the 3 years she resided there. Thank you to the staff who cared for mom at Melville Lodge LTC during the past 7 weeks.
Our family will be forever grateful to everyone who has reached out to us to offer your condolences, words of comfort, and support after mom’s passing. Thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts for the love and support you have shown to us.
In memory of Mae, please perform a random act of kindness because she always believed it was better to give than to receive.
Family flowers only. In lieu of flowers, donations in kind can be made in Mae’s memory to the NS Alzheimer’s Society, WP Boys and Girls Club, or Lions Foundation Canada Dog Guides.
“Mother, you left us beautiful memories, your love is still our guide, although we cannot see you, you are always at our side.”
Visitation and memorial service to celebrate the life of Catherine Mae MacLean will be held at Pier Community Funeral Home, 1092 Victoria Rd. (entrance on Church St.), Whitney Pier on Saturday, November 19, 2022. A gathering of family and friends will take place from 9 – 11 a.m. with the memorial service to follow at 11 a.m. in the All Faith Chapel with Fr. Paul Murphy officiating. Interment will take place in St. Barra Church Cemetery, Christmas Island.
For those unable to attend, Live Streaming will be available on our website.
Click Here: https://www.facebook.com/35925689617/live/
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Pier Community Funeral Home.
Online Condolences
Mae was a good friend and co-worker of mine, I will sincerely miss her loving kindness, she was a wonderful person, who I will miss. My sincere condolences to Mae, her family and friends. May she Rest-In-Peace and may God have mercy on her soul.
From: Lois Smith
Dear Shelley and Cathy,
I was sorry to read about your Mom’s passing. I certainly had some great times together with your Mom and Dad.
Sincere sympathy,
Diane Kendall
Dear Cathy and family,
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. My deepest condolences to you and your family during this difficult time. You took such wonderful care of your mom. She was so lucky to have you. Be strong. God Bless.
Love,
Margaret
Mae is deeply missed. She was an angel here on earth.
Dear Cathy and Shelley. Was very saddened to hear of your mothers passing. She was a great neighbor. Spent many of a times at your house. Your mother would always come over and spend many hours sitting on the veranda with my mother. She will be greatly missed.
Our deepest condolences to you and your family Cathy.
The McKenzie-Leungs
Dear Cathy and Family,
We are so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. Our heartfelt condolences to you and your family during this difficult time. Losing a mother is never easy. You really took care of her. Wishing you peace, comfort, courage, and lots of love at this time of sorrow. Be strong.
Love,
Ranee and Family
We are in our thoughtful during time of her life and you both have her heart with you forever…Lynne and Cecil.marchand
Dear Cathy and Shelly. I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of your mom she was an angel. Your mom and we’re always so kind to me and always welcomed in your home they were both angels my deepest condolences to you both and your families. Mae will be missed May she rest easy Fly high with the angels Mae 🙏🏻♥️
Dear Shelley and family,
I met your Mom several times when we visited the Berkeley. She was always kind, charming and concerned about the comforts of other people. It was my pleasure to know her, even for a brief period… such an elegant and friendly lady. She will be missed by our Dad and all who knew her. Please accept my heartfelt condolences … I hope that the warm memories of her life give you all comfort at this sad and difficult time.
Cathy, Shelly and Family and Friends, May Her Soul R.I.P.
Dear Cathy and Family,
My sincere condolences and on the loss of your beloved mother. Our prayers are with you and your family. You were a wonderful daughter who always took care of her family. This loss is heavy but know you will always carry her in your heart and her memories will always be with you. May she rest in eternal peace.
Sincerely,
The Nicastro Family
Condolences to the family. Knew Mae & Dick from when they lived on Terrace St.
Cathy I so sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. I know what you are going throug since I just gone through the same my thoughts and prayers 🙏 are with you and your family. God bless
To Dan Andrea and Family we are so sorry to hear of the passing of your sister Our condolences to all of you at this difficult time
My condolences to the MacLean family on May’s passing! I have known her for a long time. My sister Catherine MacLeod were neighbors on Kendall St. The last time I saw your Mom was at my sister’s funeral almost 8 years ago.
Cathy, our deepest sympathy to you and all your family. I loved all the stories and pictures of your Mom, that you shared over the years. May you all be strong and comforted at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
For your Mom, may perpetual light shine upon her and may she rest in peace. Amen.
So sorry to here of your mom passing we had many of family parties with her and your dad I hope all the wonderful memories you have get you through this most difficult time your in my thoughts and prayers . Love Yvonne
My deepest condolences to you all. Wishing you peace and comfort at this sad time.
So sorry to hear of Mae’s passing! She was a sweet lady! My condolences to all her family! May she RIP 🙏🙏
Dear Shelly, Marion and Maclean family: Our sincere condolences.
RIP Mae. Was a pleasure knowing you, Mae, at the Aphasia Association and BIANS Music Therapy. God bless, June & Phillip Ngui.
Dear Cathy and Shelley: I am so sorry to hear about your mom’s passing. I remember your mom as a vibrant and friendly lady who was always kind to the neighbourhood kids and was always smiling. I offer my sincerest condolences to you and your families. Take comfort knowing that she has been reunited with your dad ❤️.
Dear Family:
I was saddened to read about Mae’s passing. Your Mom & Dad were very good neighbors to my parents Henry & Dorothy Jewer.
When Mom & Day spent their last years at Mac Gillivary Guest Home Mae took such good care of both of them and was such an encouragement to all the family when we came to Cape Breton to see our parents.
We will always be so grateful to you mom and dad for the giving spirit they both had,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Jewer Family
My deepest condolences to you both Shelly, Cathy and family. Mae was a kind and wonderful woman and will never be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Shelley and Cathy: You were my second family and my second home. I miss all those great moments we had growing up together, but will cherish the memories forever. Our neighbourhood was so lucky to have your Mom and Dad and both of you as part of it. The dynamics would have been completely different without you, such great neighbours and friends. I will be forever grateful to have been apart of that. I will always remember her deep belly, infectious laugh forever. Just remembering that makes me smile. Mae’s obituary is a beautiful tribute to her life. As I read the comments on this page, it is evident the positive impact she had on people.
If only we all can have those words said about us when we leave this world….what a true gift that would be.
Shelley and Cathy I was saddened to learn of the passing of your mom. She and your dad were great neighbours. Your mom would come over and visit my mom often and I know mom looked forward to those visits. So many wonderful things to say about Mae, kindness being the top runner.
Shelley and Cathy,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Mae worked with us at ‘Ike’s Deli’ for several years. Her warm smile and caring manner touched many lives. Your Mom and Dad were lovely people and will be sadly missed.
Dear Cathy, Bill, Alison, Madi and all your extended family and friends.
Please accept our sincerest condolences. Mae was a wonderful, kind and caring woman. May she rest in peace.
Deborah, Carolyn, Stephen, Tanalee, Alex and Teresa Messer