Obituary of Philomena Celeste MacInnis

Philomena Celeste (Detcheverry) Mac Innis November 26, 1939, to December 4, 2024 The Heavenly Choir rejoices in song as their star singer Philomena Celeste (Detcheverry) Mac Innis has now joined with them to sing for the Lord. Philomena went to heaven peacefully, yet unexpectedly on December 4th, 2024, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia on November 26, 1939, she was the fifth child/second daughter to Louis and Mathilda Detcheverry. She became the wife of Jackie Mac Innis 59 years ago (although a total of 69 years together) on September 25th, 1965. Philomena is best known for her beautiful singing voice and when she wasn’t singing, she could be heard humming a happy tune, even while doing her routine daily chores. A long-time member of St. Anthony’s Church, she belonged to the church choir and to there St. Anne’s Sodality. She was one of the original members of the Glace Bay singing group, the Coal Town Chorus. Mom dearly loved little children. From taking care of her younger siblings, then raising her own three, she was a highly regarded daycare provider for many of the children in her neighborhood. The children in her care loved her so much, often they cried to stay with her at the end of the day when their parents came to take them home. She loved being a volunteer worker for the Passchendaele Nursery School, where she got to sing songs and spend time teaching and playing with the children. She enjoyed it so much that she stayed there for many years, proudly enrolling her fist granddaughter as soon as she was 4 years old to spend extra special quality time with her. In her earlier years, Philomena worked at Harry Sable’s Dry Cleaners and Bades Bake Shop (where she met long time best friend Florence Mac Intyre-Ulrich when they bonded over a pie). Being a wonderful cook and talented seamstress, she shined when working for Murrin’s Catering and later for Hazel Wilde’s Draperies. Mom loved socializing and entertaining. She will always be remembered by many for her quick wit and great sense of humor. Philomena is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Jackie Mac Innis, daughter Brenda Doue-Landry (Paris Landry) and son Blair. She leaves behind five grandchildren; Amanda Doue (Ben Beauchamp), Daniel Doue, Tyler Gouthro, Raye Doue (James Ignacio) and Spencer Mac Innis, brothers: Clifford (Anna) Detcheverry and Francis AKA: Detch (Heather) Detcheverry, sisters: Delphine (Late Joe Mac Neil), Annette (Late Rodney White), Cecile (Allan Dutkosski), Ida (Eddie Donovan) and Lucy (Late Shannon Mc Pherson), brother-in-law Eddie Mc Lean, sisters in law, Mildred Pierrynowski (Late Rudolph) and Donna Boyer. Three step granddaughters Meagan Landry (Luke Thompson), Soleil Blinkhorn (Trevor), Mallory Landry (Michael Bowne), seven step great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her father and mother-in-law John and Catherine Mac Innis, her daughter Nancy Mac Innis, sister Mary Mc Lean, brothers Peter, Wilfred, Marcel and Louie. Visitation will be held at T.J. Tracey Funeral Home, 370 Reserve Street, Glace Bay on Wednesday December 11th, 2024, from 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 p.m. Celebration of Life will be held at Holy Cross Church at 11 a.m. on December 12, 2024, with Fr. Norman MacPhee officiating, interment at St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Family flowers only with memorial donations to the Diabetic Association, Tom MacNeil Cancer Patient Care Fund or a charity of one’s choice. Special thank you to her wonderful care givers Michelle Mauger (Golden Girls Home Care) and Diane Aman (New Dawn Home Care), Dr. Venkata Puppala and Staff, the nurses and doctors of CBRH ER and Dr.Alison Archibald. Condolences may be sent to Philomena’s family by visiting www.tjtracey.com.