Obituary of Marie Belland

After 90 years of life beautifully lived, Dorothy (Marie) Belland (née MacKenzie) passed away peacefully on January 19, 2026 surrounded by her family.

Born in 1935 in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, the youngest of eleven children to Murdock and Emma MacKenzie, Marie built a life centred on love, resilience, and generosity. She was a devoted wife to Maurice (Moe) Belland, whom she married in 1958, a proud mother and grandmother, and a loyal friend to many. She was deeply loved by her family.

Marie is predeceased by her husband, Maurice; son, Alan (2008); she is survived by her children: Edie (Merrell), Vancouver; Michael, Halifax;  Gregory (Kathy), Asheville, North Carolina; and John (Karen), Nelson, BC; her five grandchildren, Christina, Caitlin, Andi, Brynn, and Benjamin; sister-in-law, Eleanor Belland and countless friends who were lucky to know her.

Marie loved life. She laughed easily and often, loved music, dancing, and good food, and valued time spent with family above all else.

A graduate of St. Martha’s School of Nursing (StFX), Marie built a successful nursing career, beginning as a practitioner but soon afterward shifting to psychiatric nursing instruction at the Bathurst School of Nursing in Bathurst, NB, a role she retired from in 1995. Marie was a very proud representative of the nursing profession and spent many years as an executive member of the New Brunswick Nurses Union.

Marie and Moe moved back to Antigonish in retirement in 2011, where she reconnected with old friends and family and made many new friends as well.

Marie’s family would like to thank the staff at St. Martha’s Hospital for their compassion, kindness, and care.

In keeping with Marie’s wishes, a celebration of life for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, January 21, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, at Gabrieau’s Bistro in Antigonish.  Come tell your favourite Marie stories!

She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.