Obituary of Helen Veronica O'Neill
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O’NEILL, Helen Veronica (McGrath) Age 99 of McGrath’s Cove passed away peacefully Sunday, December 17, 2023, at the Halifax Infirmary. Born in McGrath’s Cove, Helen was the daughter of the late Clara (Kirk) and William V. McGrath and the last surviving member of her immediate family.
In 1945 she married Clyde Patrick O’Neill of Portuguese Cove. They raised their family in Armdale and spent summers in McGrath’s Cove prior to moving back to the Cove in 1972, making it their permanent residence.
Helen was predeceased by her husband Clyde in 1984, infant daughter Tamara, and sisters Vera Duffy, Mary Mayo, Hazel Joyce, Louise Parsonsen, and brothers Billy, Robert, Reginald, Laurie, Carl, Walter and foster brother Jerry Moore.
Family was everything to Mom and will be forever remembered by her daughters Joan (Ken) Collier, Cindy (Stephen) Waterfield, son Danny (Heather Francis) O’Neill all of McGrath’s Cove, Cathy (Barry Inkpen) O’Neill of Halifax, and foster brother David (Theresa) Moore, Pinedale Park. She is also survived by grandchildren Beth Collier, Sara Claveau, Chrissy MacDonald, Kendra Reiss, Allyson Quill, David O’Neill, Brenden Waterfield and Anna MacDonald, and 16 great-grandchildren, whom she loved dearly.
Helen lived life to the fullest—the way she wanted to live it. A wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother as well as Aunt and friend to all. Mom was a homemaker until 1975 when she went to work at Sears Canada, retiring in 1985.
She liked to travel, spending many winters in Florida, a trip to Memphis to see Graceland and drove across Canada with Dad to visit family. At the spry age of 90, she travelled to Perth, Australia, with her good friend, Betty Waterfield, for their granddaughter’s wedding.
Helen was an avid walker and reader, liked gardening, knitting and was always up-to-date on current events. Two of her favourite pastimes were bingo and cards where she enjoyed spending time with everyone. Always up for an adventure, her last trip to the camp at Power’s Lake was at the age of 90 in a side-by-side.
This is only the tip of the iceberg trying to describe our mother. She was one of a kind and loved dearly by all who knew her. What a legacy she left behind!
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at 11:00 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Shad Bay, with reception following. Father Duncan MacMaster will officiate. Family flowers only. Donations can be made to a charity of your choice or to St. Thomas Cemetery Fund c/o Holy Apostles Parish, 18 Scholars Road, Upper Tantallon, NS B3Z 0N2.
