Obituary of Willemina MacDonald

Willemina J. A. MacDonald, Antigonish Manor, Antigonish, NS passed away peacefully, at home on Thursday, February 6, 2020. Born in The Netherlands on August 29, 1925 to Piet and Hiltje Hendrikse, she is survived by her brother Pete (Mieke), Holland, son John (Paula) St. Andrew's; daughters Ingrid (Cyril) Campbell, Hilde (John) VandenHeuvel; Margie (Myles) Glenn, Bernice MacDonald and NormaJean MacDonald all of Antigonish; Martha (Al) Harding, Bedford, NS; 20 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, John James MacDonald, two brothers, Jack (Annie), Holland and John (Valda), New Zealand; and son James Bernard in infancy. Growing up in Holland she was active in sports including swimming, field hockey and tennis. She was a secretary and interpreter at the Municipal office in Haren. During the war she helped the resistance secretly make identity papers for the Dutch Jews, and along with her fellow co-workers evacuated their office and went into hiding, taking with them the list of all citizens of age to fight, saving hundreds of lives. After the war, this was deemed an act of heroism. In 1946, she sailed into New York with their infant child (Ingrid) to join her husband Jim in Canada, where they raised their family in Antigonish, NS. Mom loved gardening, flowers, baking, sewing, swimming in the ocean, traveling and knitting - completing her last pair of socks just six weeks ago. She was an avid volunteer, and was President of the CWL, Club 60, and 4-H Clubs; a Director of the St. Andrew's Co-op & St. Andrew's Credit Union, Secretary/Treasurer of the NS Liberal Association. After Jim's passing she was employed in the Tax Office of the Municipality of the County of Antigonish. until her retirement. Visitation Sunday, February 9th from 2:00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00 pm in MacIsaac Funeral Home, 61 Pleasant Street, Funeral Monday, February 10th at 11 am in St. Andrew's Catholic Church, St. Andrew's, Rev. James Elliott O'Neal and Rev. Andrew Gillies presiding. Burial in the parish cemetery at a later date. Donations in her memory may be made to St. Martha's Regional Hospital Foundation. Special thanks to Dr Patricia Allan for her kind care of our Mom over the years. www.MacIsaacs.ca