Obituary of Bernadette MacDougall

With great sadness we regret to announce the passing of Elizabeth Bernadette MacDougall (née Gillis) in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Sydney on October 2, 1928 to parents Martin William Gillis and Nora (Hart) Gillis.

Mama’s house was a gathering place for her family, where she welcomed visitors with a pot of tea and her famous sandwiches. In her later years, she enjoyed the peace and quiet of her home where she was known to stash the odd box of chocolates. Mama spent her formative years in Grand Narrows and Iona where she enjoyed skating on the Bras D’or lakes with her sisters.

She is survived by her sons, Neil (Sandra); Father Martin; Michael (Carmen); Leo (Joan); Bernard; Hugh (Rosemary); Donald (Mary Lou); grandchildren Christopher (Danielle); Angela (Kevin) Bray; Glen (Ashley); Christine; Charles; Sarah (Marc André) LeBlanc; Margaret (Alex) Rodgers; Michael (Chelsea); Daniel; Alison (Steve) Bond; Andrew (Sìne); Colin; Donald (Eva); Kevin; Laura (Wesley); great grandchildren, Emma, Connor, Marcel, Chloe, Duncan, James, Èli, Clara, Isabel, Vivian, Hughan, Lachlan, Ben, and Harper. She is also survived by her siblings Rosaire (John) Young, Jeannie (Urs) Schweizer, and Ron (Anita) Gillis.

She is predeceased by her husband, Charles, son, Paul, and siblings, Regina (in infancy), Mary, Wilma, Florence, Father Joe, Barry; brothers-in-law Leroy MacDonald, Allan Gillis, Lloyd Ballah, Dougald, Murdoch, Neil MacDougall, and sisters-in-law Cammy Gillis, Mary Falt, and Doreen MacDougall. 

There will be no visitation, by request. The funeral will be held Thursday, March 13, at 11:00am in St. Ninian Cathedral in Antigonish.

Donations may be made to CACL or the Palliative Care Unit at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital.