St. Margaret’s Village
On Friday, March 11, 2016, God called our home to say he needed a hardworking man to help him out in Heaven; Hughie answered God's call.
Hughie Joseph MacDonald, better known to everyone as “Big Hughie” was born on Nov. 12, 1942 in Meat Cove, N.S. He was the youngest child of John and Christine (Fraser) MacDonald. He was raised from a young age by the late John Simon and Mary Ann Fraser, due to the death of his mother.
Hughie was a lifelong fisherman. Fishing lobsters out of Bay St. Lawrence and snow crab out of Pleasant Bay on the Heather Mary III with his fishing partner (also son-in-law) of 34 years, Clyde McLellan and his crew; daughter, Charlotte and grandsons, Waylon and Clydie. He liked nothing better than to tie up at the wharf and have a good chat with everyone talking about their days’ catch and as we all know, “Fishermen don’t Lie!”
Hughie also worked for the Department of Highways, for 30 years as a snow plow operator. After retiring from the D.O.T, Hughie continued to privately plow driveways in the village.
Hughie loved anything to do with the outdoors, be it ice fishing on the Bras’ Dor Lakes, picking blueberries (which he shared willingly) to hunting at his cabin in Wittenburg, N.S. with his hunting buddies, Clyde and Waylon. For Hughie, it was more about the time spent with his buddies and the MacNeil brothers telling stories after a day of hunting on the mountain regardless if their hunt was successful or not. “If you consider an unsuccessful hunt to be a waste of time, then the true meaning of the chase eludes you altogether.” He also successfully shot his first moose this past season.
On any given day he could be found in his building, usually fixing one thing or another or otherwise watching his Montreal Canadiens during the hockey season. ‘Go HABS Go’! Hughie wasn’t much of a traveller but he made sure he would visit his lifelong friend, Stanley Affleck in P.E.I. every summer.
Beloved husband of Alexis (Burton) MacDonald for 53 wonderful years, loving father to Tootsi (Lawrence), Gerald, Charlotte (Clyde), Hughenia (Reg), Heather (Troy) and daughter-in-law, Sheila; cherished grandfather to 12 and great-grandfather to 17. He also leaves behind his brother, Sam (Colleen), Thistle, four sisters- in- law, three brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, a long time friend, Calvin Capstick ‘K.K.’, friends from all over and also “his Boarder”, his granddaughter, Cherilyn, who considered him her best friend and also her inspiration.
Hughie was predeceased by his parents, John and Christine (Fraser) MacDonald and John Simon and Mary Ann (MacKinnon) Fraser; parents-in-law, Alex and Mary (Stewart) Burton; brothers, Jim McDonald and Hector MacDonald; sisters, Margaret Boutlier, Annie Beatrice (Burke) Brushett and grandchildren, William and Tayler MacDonald and Hugh Murdock Fraser.
A gathering of family and friends to celebrate the late Hughie J. MacDonald will be held at St. Margarets of Scotland Church, Fr. James MacLean Room, St. Margarets Village on Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2016, from 8-10 p.m. and again on Thursday, Mar. 17 from 10-1 p.m. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, Mar. 17 at 2 p.m. in St. Margarets of Scotland Church with Fr. Lazarus Guria officiating. Burial will take place in the parish cemetery. Following the committal a reception will be held in the Fr. James MacLean Room.
Donations in memory of Hughie may be made to St. Margaret's CWL.
The family would like to give special thanks to Bay St. Lawrence Vol. Fire Dept. members, EHS.; Kenny Caldwell and Chris Ellis, Adele Buchanan RN, Rev. Carolyn Sharpe, Fr. Lazarus Guria and Cst. Nelson who all lent support on such a difficult day.
For My Husband:
We took our vows together
Said, "Till Death do us part",
But when God came and took your hand
My whole world fell apart,
No one knows the heartache
I try so hard to hide,
Only God knows how many times
I've broken down and cried.
When I look back upon our lives
One of the things that makes me glad,
That you chose me to share with you
The precious years we had.
Always loved, never forgotten, and forever missed, your wife, Alexis.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Pier Community Funeral Home.
Fisherman’s Prayer
And when it comes to my last cast.
I then must humbly pray:
When in the Lord's great landing net
And peacefully asleep
That in His mercy I be judged
Big enough to keep.
Send an online condolence.
Online Condolences
I would like to express my condolenes to all the family of the late Hughie Macdonald. so sorry for what you're going through and know what it is like to grieve ,since I lost my late husband a few years ago. take care and God be with you all and I'll keep you in my prayers.
From: Linda Blair
Alexis, Charlotte, Hughena, Heather and family we are so sorry for the loss of Hughie. Nick and I would love to get down to see you, Nick is working in Cape North on Friday so I will try and get down. Please except our sincere condolences.
From: Donna and Nick Rutherford
So sorry for your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.
From: Helen MacNeil & Gary LeBlanc, Irish Vale
My thoughts and Prayers are with you all at this difficult time.If I was home I be there.
From: Jean Doyle
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all as you journey through the sad days head. With deepest sympathy….
From: Linda Sams
Sending my deepest and heartfelt sympathies to all of Hughie's famil.
From: Jackie Ingraham
To you all a heartfelt thought and prayer to your family for the loss of a great man. I often heard dad mention what a wonderful person he was not only to his family but the community. Dad thought the world of him so me definitely was one of the best. To my good friends Heather and Troy Kyersten and Kaitlyn and Hughenia…hugs to you all. It will be a tough road but hang on to those memories with a smile in your hearts.
From: Monica Hogan
So very sorry for your loss Alexis and family. He was such a great man and will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
From: Elaine and Bert Cesaroni
My Dear Alexis you guys were there for me all along when my better halfs time was to be with God and I'm sure they met at Heaven'so gate.Hang on to the love and memories he leaves behind love you all.
From: Pierrrtte
Grampie.. Think the last time I saw you, I was a little toddler. Really wished you would have seen me grow. I love you grampie! It was great to have you apart of my life. Xoxo miss you always!!!!!!
From: Alicia
From: Connie and Angus Daisley
Alexis and Family; My condolences go out to all of you at this sad time. May you all take comfort from the fact that Hughie was a great friend to all who knew him. May he rest in Peace.
From: Mary MacNeil
My heartfelt condolences to Alexis, Charlotte, Hughenia, Heather and their families on the loss of such a wonderful man. Hughie was an amazing father, loving husband and friend. He will be missed dearly. We love you very much!!!!!
Love always and forever, Sheila
He will be missed. I'm glad there are so many good memories to think about. He made me laugh a lot and I'll miss that. Love to you all. xxoo
From: Roberta (Sissy) Prince
Alexis and Family, we were deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Hughie . We have many memories of years gone by and those we've made in recent years. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
From: Florence, Betty, Diane, Donna ,Micheal and Jimmy Fraser & Families
Alexis and Family, we are so sorry for the loss of this man whom we all loved so much. Memories of the times at Mary Ann's when you and Hughie first got together, and the laughs we had over the years. These memories will always be in our minds as will Hughie. The world is a better place for his having been in it.
From: Mary Phillips
Sorry for your loss. All of you are all incredible and kind. Thanks for the great memories.
From: Wilfred LeBlanc
From: Heather & Ben
Alexis and family We were so sorry to hear of Hughie's passing. Unfortunately we cannot make it to the wake or burial as we are extremely tired due to Bertha's passing and celebration of life on Mar. 15th. We wish to express sincere condolences to all family members.
From: Pauline & Albert Zwicker
Dear Alexis & family, Thinking of you in the sad time in the sudden passing of Hughie, you will greatly miss him. Our thoughts & prayers are with you.
From: Melvin & Agnes Pearo & Girls, Alder Point, C.B.
THERISE AND I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO ALEXIS,CHARLOTTE AND CLYDE AND THE REST OF HUGIES FAMILY.I MET HUGHIE APPROX. 10 YEARS AGO AND NOT A DEER SEASON HAS GONE BY THAT I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HIM SITTING AT THE CAMP TABLE LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AND PREPARING NEW FISHERMANS STORIES.I WILL MISS HIM BUT IT WAS A HONOUR TO KNOW HIM.GOD BLESS.
From: CALVIN AND THERISE PATTERSON