Obituary of Sarah (Sadie) Winnifred MacNeil

Sadie’s family are saddened to announce her passing on October 31st, 2020 at the age of 84. Born on October 15, 1936  she was a daughter of the late Pat and Emily (Wallace) Linkletter.

A funeral and celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 1:00 pm in St. Ninian Cathedral, Rev. Danny MacLennan presiding. Burial in the parish cemetery. To attend, you will be required to provide Proof of Vaccination for COVID-19. 

Mom lived her life caring for those she loved as a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. 

She loved gardening, knitting, reading, music and dancing.  She and Dad spent many Saturday nights attending dances.  She loved Bingo and in the last several years it was Radio Bingo on Saturday afternoon, especially when some of her children and grandchildren showed up to play with her.  When her children were in school, they always came home to baked treats, such as cookies, cakes, fudge, homemade bread and rolls and biscuits. Sunday dinners were always special, and so were the conversations.  She was a wonderful mother; but her 18 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren were her crowning glory.  She had a way of making each one feel that they were the favorite.  Mom loved all of the holidays and decorating; which was usually overdecorated.  She tried to create a little magic for the little ones.  She was always thinking of the aspects that the grandchildren would appreciate.  Although Mom was a very quiet and unassuming person; once you were in her inner circle, she was sassy and had a good sense of humour.  She loved to play cards and was in her glory when all of her children were visiting and playing games. The evenings could get quite boisterous, but if she was not playing she would sit back and take it all in.

Mom and Dad were married in June 1956 and moved around a fair bit in the first 17 years.  They spent many years in Ontario and were ground zero for all of their family members who eventually made their way there.  Everyone was always welcomed with open arms.  There were many get-togethers which always included plenty of good food and beverages, and lots of fiddle music, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Dolly Parton.  They eventually settled back in Antigonish in 1973.

She is survived by daughters; Linda (Carl Sutton) Halifax,  Marleen (Ian) MacKinnon, Alexina (George Landry), Valerie (Glen Smith), Bonnie (Allan) MacDonald all of Antigonish and her only son John, Calgary; 17 grandchildren, Hilary, Rachael, Kinnon, Kendal, Morgan, Eric, Katy, Patrick, Amanda, Joseph, Ben, JJ, Logan, Kiana, Cynthia, Bryce and Julia; 8 great grandchildren; Hayley, Alexis, Duncan, Camden, Markus, Hazel, Ren and Wally; sisters, Nellie MacLellan and Shriley Chisholm, Antigonish, Margarite Chisholm and Mary Burton, Vancouver, brother Billy Linkletter, Antigonish; sister-in-law Margie Linkletter, Antigonish.

Besides her parents she was predeceased by her husband, Alex MacNeil, sister Marie Kwik and brothers, Leslie and Robbie Linkletter.  She was also predeceased by her first born grandchild, Tammy MacDonald, which was an enormous heartbreak for her, and she will take a part of Tammy with her on her final journey.

The family wishes to thank the staff at St. Martha’s Hospital, for the compassionate care she received in the cardiac unit, and the Halifax Infirmary. 

On-line condolences and/or memorial donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.