Obituary of Violet M. McRae

Vi McRae. 83, of Bedford, formerly West Arichat, Nova Scotia passed away peacefully December 18, 2016 at Hants Community Hospital after a brief illness. She will be remembered for placing family and friends at the centre of her full, happy and long life. Born January 23, 1933 in Scotsville, Nova Scotia, to the late Peter C. and Tena (Dunbar) MacKay, she was the second youngest of eight children whose parents died when she was a little girl. Raised by her older siblings, she attended Scotsville School and received a certificate in bookkeeping and typing in 1953. She worked with the Bank of Montreal in Toronto for ten years before she and her husband relocated to West Aricaht to raise their family. An active member of the community where she lived for 35 years, she volunteered with school, church, health and community organizations. She founded the Island 4-H Club which helped many young people in the area develop leadership and life skills. After her children were grown she enjoyed working with special needs students and tutoring adult learners. Her home was a place where many sought comfort whether in friendship or to enjoy a home cooked meal or a cup of boiled tea. She moved to Bedford in 1998 and embraced her new community with boundless energy, enjoying travel, church, and volunteering. She was recognized in 2014 by the Nova Scotia Government for her volunteer work with the Bedford Leisure Club. Most of all she relished time with her grandchildren, extended family and friends setting an example of a life lived with kindness, faith and strength. Her gift was to make those in her presence feel they were special and that she would support and encourage them with unwavering confidence in their abilities. She is cherished by her close-knit family, sons John (Shauna Leonard), New Glasgow and Antigonish and Doug (Kim), Dartmouth and daughter Kim (Greg) West, Bedford and Toronto; and her four grandchildren who were the light of her life Claire; Katie; Emily, and Matthew; her elder sister Phemie (Ernest) MacKinnon, Blues Mills; sisters-in-law, Carmie (Harold) McRae and Marie (Kenneth) McRae, both of Tignish PEI; Myra (Lauchie) MacKay and Vi MacKay, Toronto; Cora (Glen) Caldwell, Dartmouth; brother-in-law Seymour (Mary) McRae, Pickering and many nieces and nephews and their families. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband and the love of her life Chester in 1997, along with siblings Lauchie, Phillip and Margaret, Toronto; Chrissie, Scotsville; John, Inverness, Malcolm, Ottawa; and Alice, who died in infancy. Her family extends deepest gratitude to the nurses, doctors and staff of the Hants Community Hospital for their attentive care. Funeral arrangements are directed by TJ Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists of Bedford, Nova Scotia 902-835-4212. Visitation, Tuesday, December 20, 6-8 pm at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 1288 Bedford Highway. A memorial mass will be held Wednesday, December 21, 2 pm at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, officiated by Fr. John DeCoste with a reception to follow at the Inn on the Lake, 3009 Hwy 2, Fall River. Burial at a later date, Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lower Sackville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to in Vi’s memory to St. Ignatius Church; Hants Community Hospital