Sheila Marie MacIsaac, our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great friend, left us on April 16, 2026, at Hospice Cape Breton.

She is predeceased by her parents, Frank & Sadie Smith; her two sisters, Natalie and Diane; brother, James; her husband of 55 years, Alex (d. 2013); and her daughter, Marlene Ann (d. 2007).

Sheila was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, on October 18, 1936. She grew up in the big band era, and she had a beautiful voice; she loved to sing and dance. Her uncle Jackie Keating had a band; at times she and her sister Natalie would accompany them singing. As a teenager she sang weekly on the local CBC radio station with her sister Natalie who played the piano, and their friends Helen & Norma Durocher. They performed for Princess Elizabeth when she visited Cape Breton in November 1951.

Sheila was a lovely woman, strong, independent, sharp as a tack, with a great wit and a tremendous sense of humour. She had a deep social conscience and was always willing to lend a helping hand and at times take direct action. She encouraged a respect for all and would not tolerate anyone denigrating people because of their class, race, religion or intellectual capacity.

Prior to and shortly after her marriage, Sheila worked as an MT&T operator. When her children were in high school, she worked as a bookkeeper. In her early 60s she worked as a personal care worker for My Cape Breton Home For Seniors, which she continued until she was 74.

Her greatest love was her family and family of friends. The proud mother of five children, her three daughters, Donna (Max) Brocklehurst, (Edmonton), Marlene (deceased), and Sheila (John) Hall, (Sydney) and two sons Allan (Maddy Hudson) (Toronto), and Robert (Jill) (Interlachan, Florida); nine grandchildren, Belle, Miranda, Trina, Jeffrey, Tyler, Robert, Ariel, Charis, Alistair, and step-grandchild, Geoffrey Hall; and twelve great-grandchildren: Shaylynn, Mark, Peyton, Avery, Josh, Daniel, Christopher, Morgan, Kale, Owen, Faitlyn and Jackson. So many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends... she loved them all, and her home was their home.

There were struggles of course, but she was always there: comforting, supportive, encouraging. She was the best mother that we could have possibly imagined and was like a mother to so many others as well. She will be deeply missed. We will carry her with us wherever we go.

We would like to thank all the family and friends who gathered around her in these last months with their presence, words, thoughts and prayers. Special thanks to: Shirley Ardelli, her daughter Carolyn Ardelli-Kiley and her husband Mike; Steve and Marlene Gavel and their children Shannon, Jordan and Phoenix; Shaune Warren and Lisa Dixon; Agnes Morin; Peter and John MacIsaac.

We would also like to thank her family physician, Margaret Fraser, who provided exceptional care to our mother; and the Palliative Care staff at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, floor 4A, who were truly wonderful. Dr. Anne Francis D'Intino and the entire Hospice Cape Breton team, the nursing staff, CTAs, kitchen staff, music and occupational therapists provided unparalleled care in the last chapter of our mother’s life. Thank you Derek, Amanda, Erlinda, Ann and a special thank you to Katherine for being there at the end and holding her hand.

Donations in Sheila’s memory may be made to Hospice Cape Breton.

Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, 6 Churchill Drive, Sydney, NS. A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family by visiting www.tjtracey.com.