Obituary of Evelyn Ann Cameron

It is with great sadness that the family of Evelyn Ann Cameron announces her passing on Sunday, December 4, 2022, at the age of 78.

Born on October 11, 1944, Evelyn was one of seventeen children and grew up in Fairmont, Antigonish County. Daughter of the late Miriam (Hanrahan) and Ralph Neary, she was a strong, loving and devoted sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend to all that had the pleasure of knowing her.

Evelyn was exceptionally caring and kind-hearted, with quick wit and a great sense of humour. She had a deep appreciation for hard work and always made time to lend a helping hand - whether you were looking for it or not! In life, she was known as an overall handy woman and for her beautiful upholstery and seamstress work. She had an incredible ability to find the potential in just about anything and treasured a good yard sale or roadside find!

She could often be found in her kitchen and had a passionate love affair with food, especially dessert, which was a vital component of any meal in her house. Her grandchildren will forever dream of her chocolate muffins topped with brown sugar. She had a deep respect and connection with nature and animals and was often found tending the garden, camping, watching the birds on her front veranda, taking long walks or cuddling up with her numerous kitty-cats over the years. She loved the lexicon, reading, telling a good story, and the occasional stiff drink of Lambs Amber Rum, though it was music that filled her home daily. She could spend hours listening to Celtic Thunder, Johnny Reid and Daniel O’Donnell while dancing a jig or two!

There wasn’t a St.Patrick’s Day she wasn’t surrounded by family celebrating her Celtic roots. She was our Irish Nanny, the keeper of shamrocks and our good luck charm. While small in stature, she made up for it in pride. Pride for her children, her grandchildren and her life. She was exceptionally blessed in all the ways that mattered, the ones that counted the most and knew that a good bar of Sunlight soap could make just about anything sparkle a little bit brighter.

She will be greatly missed, by her children Kim (Darrel) MacDonald, Fairmont, and Michelle (Gerald) Cameron, Fairmont; grandchildren, Devin (Andrea) Delaney, Halifax, Lindsey (Sean) Willits, Dartmouth; Emma (Shawn) MacDonald, Dartmouth, Sarah Delaney, London U.K., and her great-grandson, Ethan Willits; brothers James (late Janet) Neary, Francis (late Donna) Neary, David (late Patsy) Neary, Joe (Marian) Neary, Patrick (Eileen) Neary, Jerome (Maria) Neary and sisters Beatrice Campbell (late Wally), Florence Smith (late Bill), Eleanor "Bunny" Kalin (late David), Ellen Parsons (late Stan), Patsy MacPhie (late Jim) and Brenda (Bernie) Heffernan, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and dear friends, especially John, Linda and Marian; all whom she cherished and adored.

She is predeceased by her parents and siblings, Robert, Eugene, Maggie, Dorothy, and infant brother, Howard Bernard.

Thank you to all of her caregivers (special friends) that allowed Evelyn to be at home as long as she could. She thoroughly enjoyed teaching them all they needed to know about cleaning 101! And thank you to all the staff at the ALC 4th Floor, St Martha’s Regional Hospital for your care.

Cremation has taken place, and arrangements have been entrusted to MacIsaac Funeral Home, 61 Pleasant St., Antigonish. There will be no visitation as per Evelyn’s request. Funeral Mass will be held at 11 am on Friday, December 9, 2022, in St. Ninian Cathedral, Rev. Danny MacLennan presiding. Donations may be made to the Antigonish Food Bank in memory of Evelyn Ann Cameron. To honour her immensely kind-hearted nature, the family asks those who knew her to pay it forward and carry out an act of kindness towards someone else.