Obituary of Thomas Cletus McNamara

It is with broken hearts we announce that on Saturday, March 16, 2024, our father, Thomas Cletus (Tommy) McNamara passed into the arms of the God he loved and worshiped his entire life. Born in Ball’s Creek, Cape Breton County, April 26, 1932, he was a son of the late Clancy and Annie Mae (Gouthro) McNamara. Dad worked at Brookfield’s Dairy, Chapell’s Lumber, and St. Elizabeth Hospital, North Sydney, before following his passion for farming and operating his own business which he did for many years until retirement. He is survived by his lifelong friend and former spouse, Jennie (Sutherland) McNamara; his daughters, Carmelita (George) Rowe, Bedford, Cleta Koskolos, Bedford, MJ (Reinhard) Jerabek, Hammonds Plains; sons, Roddie (Sharon) Westmount, Liam, Halifax; grandchildren, Nicole McNamara, Halifax, Geoff (Mallory) McNamara, Mira, Ashley (Matthew) Daigle, Hammonds Plains, Jessica Koskolos, Bedford; great-grandchildren, Taia and Braxton McNamara, Luke Daigle; sister, Maureen Linden, Westmount; sister in-law, Gladys Sutherland, Port Hawkesbury and brother in-law, Greg Bonaparte, Sydney; as well as many nieces and nephews with whom he kept in contact over the years. Besides his parents, Dad was predeceased by his sisters, Sarah McNamara, Jean (Howard) MacDonald, Alexina (Bill) Gillam, Alice (Danny) MacAdam, Christine Bonaparte and infant sister Jessie McNamara; his brothers, John (Rita), Gerald (Sheila), John (Lucille) Fitzgerald; brother in-laws, Francis Linden and Joseph Sutherland; nephews, Murdo Sutherland, Ronnie MacDonald, Danny MacDonald and John Fitzgerald. Our family wishes to thank the staff of Northwood Ivany Place, Bedford, for their unrelenting support and care provided to Dad since September 2013, as well as relatives and friends who visited Dad and kept in contact with him. Dad was always happy to see people from his beloved Cape Breton Island and was grateful for every visit, card and phone call. Dad’s eyes would light up at the sight of a cup of tea and a sweet, his favorite being a slice of pie. Dad loved to tell stories about his adventures over the years and no one laughed more than him as he reminisced about his escapades! He worked unbelievably hard to provide for his family and dearly loved all his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was an exceptional, loving dad to his 'special son' Liam, who was never far from his mind and heart. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, 6 Churchill Drive, Sydney, NS, 902-539-7175. A mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Mary’s Church, Frenchvale, on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a reception in the Frenchvale Fire Hall before Interment at 2p.m. in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Barra Head, Richmond County. For those unable to attend, livestreaming will be available and can be viewed by visiting the T.J. Tracey Facebook page. Dad had an everlasting desire to share food with others, in particular people he thought might be hungry, so the family extends our appreciation to anyone who would like to make a donation to a local food bank, in his memory. Words of condolence may be made to the family by visiting www.tjtracey.com. 1 John 3.1 See what great love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called Children of God!