Obituary of Jenny MacGillivray

Link to Funeral Mass video https://youtu.be/iW1nJ9dZYqQ

It is with heavy hearts but tremendous gratitude for a long life well-lived we announce the passing of our dear mother, Jenny. Janet Catherine (MacLellan) MacGillivray was born on August 8, 1927 the eldest child of Charlotte and Thomas MacLellan. Losing her mother at an early age had a profound impact on Jenny and her siblings. Jenny's Aunt Kate moved in with the family which enabled her father to keep his children together. Jenny had a deep love and admiration for her father and Kate and honored them, and her mother Charlotte, by always sharing memories and stories of them with her siblings, children and grandchildren, along with anyone else fortunate enough to have time with her to sit and benefit from her amazing ability to recall the past. She was ever the story-teller and family historian.

Jenny was the consummate educator. She began her teaching career in a one-room school house in Beech Hill.  From there she went to Malignant Cove, taught in a two-room schoolhouse where she met her future husband Joe. She spent her last teaching years at MacPherson Elementary School in Antigonish where she established and maintained enduring and life-long friendships. She was especially fond of books and her house was always filled with them. She taught, modeled, and strongly encouraged a love of reading. Jenny subsequently spent many, many summers at Malignant Cove. Jenny was the presiding matriarch at the numerous family gatherings there, which she enjoyed tremendously and which provided her with additional memories and stories to add to her extensive knowledge of family history.

Together she and her husband, and life partner, Joe, raised eight children whom they loved, encouraged and supported throughout their lives, an endeavor which Jenny steadfastly continued after Joe's passing in 2000. Jenny was a woman of great faith, and prayer was her constant companion until she drew her last breath. Her faith provided her with great joy, strength and solace, especially in her latter years. She also professed and exemplified the importance of, and need for, gratitude in our lives and consistently expressed her gratitude for the gifts and blessings she had received in her own life.

Left to mourn her passing are Jenny's children: Elizabeth (David) Winsor, Tom (Karen), Pauline, Rev. Donald, Sr. Catherine Ann, Angus (Mary), Janet (Jeff) Hazelton, and Marguerite, 12 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, brothers Donald and Colin (Shirley), nieces, nephews, cousins, and numerous friends and neighbours. She was predeceased by her parents Thomas and Charlotte, step-mother Mary, husband Joe, sisters Sarah Catherine (in infancy), Marnie (Danny) McVicar, Chris (Ken) Carter, Charlotte (Terry) Chew and sister-in-law Claire MacLellan.

Jenny's family would like to thank Isabel MacDonald and Florence Milley for their friendship, kindness and compassion.  We are very grateful for Doctor Patsy Allan who understood Mom and provided her with many years of exceptional care. Thank you to the VON for their years of service.

Visitation will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 pm on Sunday, July 30, 2023 in MacIsaac Funeral Home, 61 Pleasant St. Funeral Mass 11 am Monday, July 31st in St. Ninian Cathedral, with her son, Rev. Donald MacGillivray presiding. Burial in the parish cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. George Cemetery, Georgeville.

“SLEEP IN THE NAME OF GOD, JENNY”