92, St. Margarets Village

Our Mother, Mary (Stewart) Burton, 92, St. Margarets Village passed away at home on May 13, 2011 after many years of hard endurance due to failing health.

Born on Dunakym Mountain / Glencoe Mills, Inverness County, on Feb. 25, 1919, Mary was the daughter of the late John Neil Stewart (1882-1977) and Maggie Jane MacDonald (1888-1922), Foot Cape, Inverness County.

Mom is survived by daughters, Peggy (the late Lloyd) Petrie, Dingwall, Alexis (Hughie) MacDonald, St. Margarets Village, Elizabeth (Gordon) MacKillop, Glace Bay, Theresa (Kenneth ‘Brother’) MacKinnon, St. Margarets Village; and son, Murdock (Violet) Burton, White Point; 21 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; 15 great-great-grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; one step-great-great-grandchild; nephew, Jackie (Audrey) Stewart, Whycocomagh; nieces, Betty (Clyde) Tanner, Timberlea and Leona (Mitch) Ginn, Eastern Passage; sisters-in-law, Judy (the late Harold) Buffett, Oromocto, N.B., Lizzie Burton, St. Margarets Village and Mary Burton, Dingwall; as well as many other nieces and nephews .

Mary was predeceased by her husband, Alex of 53 years (1914-1995); sons, George (1948-1973) and Jimmy (1951-1973); three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; step-daughter, Carol O’Brien (John); sons-in-law, Lloyd Petrie and Raymond MacKinnon; sister, Cassie (1910-1988) who became a mother figure at age 12 to our Mom, Mary, who was two years old when their Mother died; brothers, Dan Angus (1909-1929), Ranold (1912-1979), John Dan (1914-1989) (Georgina MacLean), John Alex (1916-1988) (Hattie Stewart) and Dan Charlie (1921-1978); grandnephew, John Glen Stewart (son of Jackie and Audrey Stewart); brothers-in-law, George, Jack (Lorna), Andrew, Donald, Allan (Kay), Frank and Ernie; as well as sisters-in-law, Mamie (Gordon) Dedieu and Mary (Joe) Doucette.

We would like to thank our sister, Theresa for all the years she cared for our parents and especially the last 16 years since Dad passed away; ‘Brother’ for all his dedication, and his ”funny wit" that would put a little smile on Mom’s face; the live in care workers for all they have done in order for Mom to live at home, especially to Pat, for treating our mother as if she was her own; Home Care workers, especially Nancy, who was like a daughter to Mom; nurses that did home visits; doctors and staff at Buchanan Memorial Hospital, especially to Dr. Ken Murray for his 38 years of care to Mom. We also would like to thank Archie MacDonald for his visits over the years and our cousin, Andre Burton who was always there when needed.

Mom’s great-grandfather, Neil Stewart of the Isle of Eigg in Scotland arrived and settled in Glencoe in 1843 and brought with him the Gaelic language which was passed on to Mom, her brothers and sister. When Mom started school in Glencoe Mills with her friends, Mamie (Mac Isaac) Gillis (deceased) and Tena (Mac Isaac) MacMillan, Mabou, they had very little English. Tena later was our mother’s maid of honour and they remained life long friends. Dad was working in the lumber woods for Peter J. MacIntyre in Dunakym when he met our Mother and they married in 1942, after Dad enlisted in the Army. Later they had Peggy, and while in the front lines in Holland, he received word that another daughter, Alexis was born. Dad’s sister, Judy helped Mom move from Dunakym to St. Margarets Village just before dad arrived home from overseas in October 1945. In 1946 dad built our family home and they moved in 1947. While building the house he added a bedroom down stairs in case as he remarked, ”when we get old, we might need it”, and this is where they both lived their last days and passed away. When they moved in a neighbour, the late Mary Alice (Bob) MacDonald came up with a basket of goodies to welcome them. This act of kindness, lead to them becoming great neighbours and friends. Another good neighbour and friend was Joe Curtis (the late Margaret) who Mom met while he was working in Dunakym in the lumber woods. Jessie (late Mike) Fitzgerald, Dingwall was also another good friend of Mom’s.

Mom was a very humble person, with a heart of gold. She worked at home providing the best care we could ever want. She loved to see family, friends, and priests come to visit. Before leaving, they would need to have a cup of tea and a piece of pie. Dad fished for about 45 years and Mom would get up every morning to make his breakfast.

Mom was a longtime member of St. Margarets of Scotland Church, St. Margarets Village.
Visitation for the late Mary (Stewart) Burton will be held on Sunday, May 22, 2011, from 12-9 p.m. in St. Margarets of Scotland Church, Fr. James MacLean Room, St. Margarets Village. Funeral mass to celebrate the life of Mary (Stewart) Burton will be held on Monday, May 23 at 3 p.m. in St. Margarets of Scotland Church with Fr. Dan MacDonald officiating. Burial will take place in the parish cemetery. A luncheon will follow by the C.W.L. in the Fr. James MacLean Room.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Pier Community Funeral Home.

“Tha gaol agam ort,Mathair.Tapadh leat”

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