Obituary of Harriet Cameron

Harriet Jane (MacChesney) Cameron (1936-2026)

The youngest child of five, Harriet was born on the family farm of her late parents, Fred and Florence (MacPherson) MacChesney on March 25, 1936. In 1966, she and her late husband Allister built their family home in Lochaber, on a property first settled by the Camerons after arriving from Scotland. Both resided and ultimately passed away in their treasured home in accordance with their very strongly held wishes, with Allister going first in 2007.

Besides Allister and her parents, Harriet was predeceased by her beloved daughter Gail Ann (1968), her loving uncle, Harold MacPherson (1943), her much adored brother, James (1986), and her oldest sister, Delia (2024). She is survived by her daughter, Fay, Moncton; son, David (wife, Tammy), Halifax; son Dale (partner, José), Halifax; her five much loved and cherished grandchildren, grandsons Harrison (Grace) Nathan and Kieran (Jenna) Ellis, all of Moncton; and granddaughters Hannah, Calgary; and Abigail Cameron, Halifax; great grandchildren Nora and Chase; and her elder sister and brother, the twins, Nettie Cameron, Antigonish, and John "Jackie" (Joyce), Toronto; and each of their respective children.

Harriet was educated at a one room schoolhouse in Afton. She worked as a clerk and did bookwork for Cameron's Jewellery in Antigonish up until her marriage to Allister in 1958. She was a faithful member of Lochaber United Church where she taught Sunday school; helped lead a CGIT group; served on the Board of Stewards; and was President and Secretary of its UCW. She served as the Central Treasurer of the Loch Haven Pastoral Charge (1977-1981) and the Forbes Memorial Pastoral Charge (1981- 2006). She was a director of Clan Cameron Atlantic, a longtime volunteer at Festival and Theatre Antigonish, and also volunteered in the library at the former MacPherson Elementary School. She was a long-time member of the Sylvan Lakers Seniors Club and sat on the board of the Seniors Getting Involved Association, which planned for the senior games held annually in June.

Along with her husband, Harriet cross-country skied, mostly around their property, and walked every day. Up until shortly before Allister’s death in January 2007, they had been active square dancers for 18 years.

Harriet loved her home and her flower gardens, scrapbooking, knitting, crossword puzzles, reading, and playing auction with family and friends. Although family flowers will be appreciated, Harriet requested that friends opt instead to extend an act of kindness to a little child, in any manner they see fit, as a living memorial to her late daughter Gail, who passed away so suddenly in 1968 at age nine.

A special thank you to neighbours and longtime friends and their families who were there for Harriet to the end, both in sickness and in health, sometimes assisting at inconvenient times and in poor weather. There are too many of you to name. Please know that your kindness through the years did not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

Visitation will be held from 3-6 pm, Friday, April 24th in MacIsaac Funeral Home, 61 Pleasant St., Antigonish. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 am, Saturday, April 25th in Lochaber United Church, Lochaber. A reception to follow in the Lochaber Community Centre. 

"Do not weep for her now that she is gone. Be happy she lived."