Obituary of Jim MacLellan

James (Jim) Leonard MacLellan, 81 Glace Bay, N.S. With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of James (Jim) Leonard MacLellan, 81, of Glace Bay. Jim passed away on August 13, 2024, surrounded by his loving family in the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, he was the son of the late Norman and Dorothy (Cathcart) MacLellan. Jim was a loving husband and father, and a life-long educator who devoted his 33-year working life to teaching at his childhood school in Bridgeport, where he exemplified patience in touching many minds and hearts. Jim also displayed his love of educating well beyond the classroom, providing extra help to students in need and coaching a variety of sports, from common school hockey and basketball to little league and youth bowling. Outside of work and into his retirement years, Jim thoroughly enjoyed volunteering in the community. As a Eucharistic minister at his longtime parish of St. Leo’s, ushering at the Savoy Theatre, and working with the St. Vincent DePaul Society, Jim found immense joy in giving back to his community. When he was not working or volunteering, Jim loved life’s simple pleasures and spending time in the company of friends and family. During the fall and winter, he was a longtime member of the Glace Bay Teachers’ and Men’s Bowling Leagues and looked forward to competing in the Nova Scotia Teachers’ Bowling tournament every spring. When warmer weather arrived, Jim could reliably be found at the bungalow in Ben Eoin playing horseshoes, darts, Tarabish, golfing, hiking, swimming or spending time around the campfire with family and friends. Perhaps Jim’s most cherished activities involved his family. He and Donna traveled many miles on family vacations, being the #1 fans for their children and grandchildren at activities and sporting events and attending every stop on the Maritime Barrel Racing Association circuit as proud parents and grandparents. Jim’s family would like to thank his many friends for the life they added to his years, the Cape Breton Regional Cancer Center (Drs. Kian Khodadad and Graydon Lucas and all the staff), as well as the Palliative Care Service, EHS, VON, Ferguson’s Pharmacy, and the staff of AnCala for the excellent care Dad received. We would also like to extend a special thank you to family friend Chris Browner for exceptional assistance in our time of need. Jim is survived by his loving wife Donna (Currie) of 52 years, his son Jamie (Tracy) of Bedford, and daughter Lindsey (Chris) Baker, of Mira. He was a loving and cherished grandfather to Lauren, Liam, Owen and Isla, and a wonderful uncle to many nieces and nephews. Jim is also lovingly remembered by three sisters: Mamie (Fred - deceased), Shirley (John) and Darlene, by brother’s in-law Trevor (Judy) Currie, Greg (Edie) Currie, Brian (Leanne) Currie, and Kevin (Nancy) Currie as well as by sisters-in-law Joanne, Maureen (Kevin) and Roseanne. He was predeceased by his sisters Willena, Flora (Keith), Diane, brothers Roddie, Charlie, John Norman (Carol), Albert Paul and Bobby, sister in-law Sandra and brother in-law Allan (Bubby) Currie. Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m., with service and reception to follow, at T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, Glace Bay, 902-849-4199. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Glace Bay Food Bank Society. Words of remembrance may be sent to Jim’s family by visiting www.tjtracey.com. “A loving father, tender and kind, what a beautiful memory you left behind” “A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart”