Obituary of Lawrence Murphy MacKenzie

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Lawrence Murphy "Grampa Polar Bear" MacKenzie, age 74, passed away swiftly on November 14, 2024, with his beloved wife, Joanne, by his side.

Raised in Morristown, Lawrence was the son of Angus Joseph (A.J.) and Marie (Beaton) MacKenzie. He spent his youth brimming with mischief, collecting memories of farm work, beach days, and exploring Antigonish County. In 1971, he met the love of his life, Joanne Stewart, at a St. Francis Xavier University gathering. Lawrence embraced the Stewart family, spending cherished days at Lochaber Lake and earning Joanne’s admiration for his kindness to those with disabilities and his joyful spirit with her then, young siblings. Their 1974 wedding on Lochaber Lake was, as Lawrence would say, his "best decision ever."

Lawrence’s greatest pride was his family. He and Joanne settled on Willowdale Lane, where they embraced family life raising their two sons and two daughters. Lawrence was devoted to his kids and their activities including soccer, hockey, Scouts, volleyball, dance, 4H and overseeing productivity of the wood pile.

Lawrence was a jack-of-many-trades until mastering safety consultancy. This role took him across Canada, allowing him to connect with his daughters on the West Coast during travels. In retirement, he embraced life’s adventures, traveling with Joanne to New Zealand, Vancouver, Maui, the Caribbean, and anywhere his kids and grandkids were.

Diabetes and Parkinson’s Disease eventually slowed Lawrence down, but his resilient spirit endured. Joanne was his constant support, helping him navigate health challenges so he could stay connected with family and friends.

Lawrence is survived by his loving wife, four children and eight grandchildren. All of whom currently live across Nova Scotia. He is also survived by four brothers, two sisters, three brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law as well as many cherished nieces and nephews.

Lawrence wished to be cremated and we honored his wishes. Visitation will be held in MacIsaac Funeral Home, 61 Pleasant Street, Antigonish, on Tuesday November 19th from 2:00-4:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm. The funeral service will be held in St. James United Church, 197 Main Street, Antigonish, on Wednesday November 20th at 10:30am with Rev. Peter Smith presiding. Burial will be in North Lochaber Lake Cemetery. Donations in memory may be made to the R.K. MacDonald Foundation -Lights of Love Campaign or a charity of choice.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Tanglewood and the CARE van drivers from RK MacDonald Nursing Home. Since 2022, they have provided Lawrence with exceptional care. We also wish to acknowledge the numerous healthcare practitioners who have cared for him over the years; their dedication is deeply appreciated.