Obituary of Nellie Mae MacLellan

Nellie Mae (Linkletter) MacLellan, Tanglewood, RK MacDonald Nursing home and formerly St. Andrews Street, Antigonish, passed peacefully and surrounded by family on Sunday January 21, 2024 at the age of 95.  She was born in Merland on April 13, 1928 to Patrick and Emily (Wallace) Linkletter, the oldest of nine children.

She is survived by her brother Billy Linkletter and sister Mary (Wayne) Burton; her children Mary (Michael) MacDonald, Beverly (Beau) MacDonald, Gerard MacLellan, Patricia MacLellan (Wayne Dewolfe), Darrell MacLellan, Marie MacLellan, Caroline (Stephen) Arsenault and Mary Theresa MacLellan (Bobby Layes); Grandchildren, Shelly MacDonald, Cindy MacDonald, Joey MacDonald, Jamie MacDonald, Tammy McCallum Fuller, Kim Delorey, Angie Ouellette, Patrick Dewolfe, Sheldon Corcoran, Colin Corcoran, Shelby Arsenault and Kaitlyn Arsenault, 16 Great-Grandchildren, one Great Great-Grandchild and her Grand-Doggies.  She also has several Nieces and Nephews who she loved dearly and were like her own children.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband Johnny;  her son Robert at the age of 56, first-born twins John and Robert at 3 months of age, and Charles and Joseph in infancy; her brothers, Leslie (Gloria) Linkletter and Robbie (Margie) Linkletter; her sisters, Marguerite (Jack) Chisholm, Sadie (Alex) MacNeil, Shirley (Jim) Chisholm and Marie Kwik; her son-in-law Michael MacDonald and Grandson John Daniel MacDonald.

She loved her home at Tanglewood where she was treated like royalty by the nurses and staff.  Her roommate, Audrey Chisholm, quickly became her best friend and the two were like university dormmates.  We are forever grateful to Audrey and her family for caring so deeply for our mother/grandmother and making sure she was always taken care of.  She looked forward to her morning or afternoon tea and chat sessions with Rosemary and Cassie Wallace whom she spoke of fondly.

Mom LOVED bingo and her soap operas.  Dad used to joke that he wrote the song “Bingo and Another World” and said it was all about Mom.  She would play cards 24 hours a day if she could and shared that joy with her entire family.  When the older grandchildren were young, they would congregate at Mom’s house on Saturday mornings in their Lopi Sweaters, that she made, to watch cartoons and eat all her bread.  Toast always tasted better at Gramma’s house…and she had cable!  As the grandchildren grew older, they realized her warped sense of humor and loved to go there just to hear her antics!  She adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren and they her.  How lucky we were to have her in our lives for so long.  In addition to the Lopi Sweaters, Mittens and socks, that she meticulously knit for the grandchildren, many of them still have the Sesame Street coffee mugs and other items that she made for them during her ceramic classes.  Over the years in addition to raising their own family, Mom and Dad cared for almost 100 foster children and she could still name every one of them, if asked.  Mom volunteered at the Opportunity Shop through the CWL and fell in love with the ladies she worked with.  She considered them to be among her best of friends and spoke of them often.  The family would like to thank Dr. Michael MacKenzie, the Nurses and Staff at Tanglewood and Antigonish Home Care Nurses.  You all provided such great care of Mom and we are grateful for each and every one of you. 

Visitation will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 pm on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 in MacIsaac Funeral Home.  Funeral mass 11 am Thursday, January 25^th in St. Ninian’s Cathedral.  Donations in her memory may be made to the R.K. Nursing Home Foundation - Tanglewood, St. Ninian's Cemetery Fund or charity of choice.