Whitney Pier
February 23, 1929 – May 23, 2025
With hearts full of love and gratitude for a life so beautifully lived, we announce the passing of our mother, Olga Skeete on Friday, May 23, 2025, at the age of 96. A cherished wife, devoted mother, loving grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, musician, caregiver, and friend, Olga lived a life that was rich in kindness, faith, and service to others.
Born on February 23, 1929, to the late Alonzo and Miriam (Weeks) Lucas, Olga was raised in a loving home in Whitney Pier that instilled in her the values she would carry throughout her life. She worshipped at Harbour Light Church and remained faith-filled until the very end, always encouraging her family to trust in God and lead lives of purpose and love.
Olga married the love of her life, Lemuel Skeete, on September 7, 1950. Their incredible 72-year marriage stood as a testament to true devotion, lasting until Lemuel’s passing on November 6, 2022. Together, they built a warm, welcoming home that became a cornerstone of the community, a place where there was always enough food, enough beds, and more than enough love to go around. In 2020, they relocated to Dartmouth to be closer to their children as their care needs increased.
Olga’s musical journey began in the early 1940’s. She was a gifted and passionate musician who found immense joy in performing. Her first experience with a band was with Barry and the Flames, sparking a lifelong love of music. She was a proud member of the Club 55 Rhythm Band, The Inspirational Singers, Memory Lane Singers, The Legionnaires Singers, numerous church groups, and of course, the Eddie Paris Orchestra.
Olga worked for many years at the Whitney Pier Daycare Centre, where her nurturing nature touched countless young lives. She will be remembered as a guiding light in the community, affectionately known as Mom, Nanny Olga, and friend to so many. Her home was a place of love and acceptance, where anyone in need could find comfort.
Olga is survived by her children, Lemuel, Darcy (Rita), and Carlton (Melodie). She is lovingly remembered by her surviving siblings, Elease Smuk and Gideon (Sylvia) Lucas. Olga leaves behind a legacy through her 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Besides her parents and husband, Olga was predeceased by her beloved daughter, Florence, and sons, Jonathan, and Melvin. She is also predeceased by her siblings, Alonzo Crawford, William ‘Bill’ Lucas, Ismay Innis, Ethelston ‘Luke’ Lucas, Ruth Lucas and Naomi Austin.
Olga was a proud Godmother to Marcus Meade and Linda Margettie, and shared a deeply special bond with her “special daughter,” Patsy Meade, to whom we offer deep gratitude for the loving care she gave to Mom and Dad throughout their lives, and especially in their later years.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the home care staff in Sydney, who provided exceptional care, and especially to Debbie Chisholm whose love and support meant so much to Mom and our family. Our deep gratitude also goes to the dedicated staff at Oceanview Manor, and to Ica Downey and Doreen Green, whose deep connection and compassion meant so much to Mom and our family.
Mom will be remembered for her unconditional love, her warm heart, her boundless generosity, and her unwavering concern for others. Her bright spirit, community-minded nature, and deep love of family will live on in all those she touched.
Today, we take comfort knowing she is with God, and reunited with her children, family and friends who have gone before her.
Visitation and funeral service to celebrate the life of Olga Skeete will be held at Pier Community Funeral Home, 1092 Victoria Rd. (entrance on Church St.), Whitney Pier on Monday, June 2, 2025. A gathering of family and friends will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with the Celebration of Life to follow at 1 p.m. in the All Faith Chapel with Pastor Rick Barnes and Michael Morrison officiating. Light refreshments will be held within the funeral home reception area. Interment will take place in Forest Haven Memorial Gardens, Sydney.
For those unable to attend, Live Streaming will be available on our website.
Click Here: https://www.facebook.com/35925689617/live/
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Olga may be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Cape Breton or a charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Pier Community Funeral Home.
Online Condolences
Our hearts and our prayers are with the family in their time of sorrow. Olga was my mom’s dearest friend before she passed 12 years ago. Whenever I visited Olga, I felt so close to my mom. Rest In Peace.
From: Janice Crawley (Nichols Family)
I was a Friend of Lem, when he lived in Donkin, as was my late husband, him and Lem were the best of Friends. I want to send my deepest Condolences to Lem’s Family in their loss of their Mother, may she rest in peace. Soar high with the Angels Olga.
From: Christena Lyons
Our condolences to Olga’s family and many friends. RIP Olga.
My condolences to the entire Skeete family may she rest in peace
So sorry for your loss of a wonderful Mum, gifted and loving, you will miss her for sure. Much love. Thomas and Gillian
Sincere heartfelt condolences to the whole family . Growing up Olga was like a second mother to me . Your whole family meant , and still do , the world to me . Heaven has another angel . Love you all
💔💔💔💔💔
I want to send condolences to the entire family. Auntie Olga will be missed by all in the community far and near.
My sincere condolence to the the entire Skeete family. May she RIP.
Condolences to all of Olga’s family and friends she was a wonderful lady treated everyone so kind. Olga may you Rest In Peace.
Sending my deepest condolences to the family. Olga was a true angel, soft spoken and always welcoming everyone. Rest in Peace Olga you will be missed!
Our sincere condolences on the loss of Olga. May you find peace and strength to get you thru the days and months ahead. Thinking of you all❤️
Larry and Sandra Hrynick
My sincere condolences to all the family..God Bless
My condolences 🕊️ 💙
Dear family members my sincere condolences for your loss. Even though we are far apart I am wishing you strength and comfort. Please remember all the good times
Love Bev Riley
Condolences to the Skeete family on the loss of this beautiful lady. I had the honor of meeting both of them at our legion functions. May your happy memories bring you comfort in the sad days ahead.
Rip aunt Olga I remember the pies you used to make me when I came to visit best ever fly hy neverd forgotten ❤️❤️🙏🙏
My condolences to the skeete family
Darcy and family, so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. Sending our thoughts and prayers your way
Jackie,Bruce and Victoria Matthews.
My deepest condolences to the Skeete family on the passing of Olga. May you find comfort in knowing others are thinking of you in your time of sorrow. May Olga rest in eternal peace.
Heartfelt Condolences to the Skeete and Lucas Families, and Friends. Olga was a pillar in our community and to know her was to Love her. I will always remember her beautiful smile. Her soft spoken voice,
May it bring the Family peace in the difficult days ahead knowing your Dad/ grandfather was waiting at the gates of heaven for her arrival as he was when she arrived at her Dartmouth home. ❤️🙏
Another angel has received her wings and My deepest condolences to the family Olga was a beautiful soul and she loved her family and friends and she had a heart of gold and a smile that could light up a room and she will be dearly missed and May She Rest In Eternal Peace 🕊️💐🙏
Sorry I am not home to attend but my prayers and memories of her I will cherish. I enjoyed every moment an thegreat loving family she had throughout her sickness. Rest in peace I will miss you love and big hugs Deborah Chisholm
Olga was a very sweet lady, my sympathies to all her family and friends. RIP Olga
Olga was a beautiful soul and we had an immediate connection from the time she entered into Oceanview. I will miss her smile and her stories of her family and her late husband Lemuel. My condolences to all of the family.
My heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Olga Skeete. Olga was a second Mother to my siblings and me. I will never the love and kindness that radiated from her. Olga was a very kind and giving person. She will be missed. R.I.P. Olga you were loved.
Our sincere condolences to all the Skeete families Our Thoughts and Prayers are with you all at this difficult time may she rest in eternal peace
Lem, Darcy, Carlton and families. My sincere condolences to all of you on the passing of your wonderful Mother.
Olga was a terrific lady who I had the pleasure of meeting as a teen. She will always be remembered for the care and love that she extended to everybody and for the exemplary spirit that she extended throughout the community.
Olga was always willing to share her musical talents whenever called upon without hesitation.
Olga will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
RIP Olga.
Skeete and Lucas families,
We are very sorry for your loss.
Bert and Maurina Lewis
Hugs to family and to friends.
Our hearts go out to you during this difficult time.
I thank God for the gentleness, love, care and gift of music that shined through Aunt Olga.
I am also thankful for Uncle Lem’s leadership, humour and kindness.
God made a beautiful couple and the memories go on.
Blessings of Shalom be upon you
Love Lorraine and Phil.
My condolences . Your Mother was as many commented, with all their kind words , was that and much more, I feel blessed to have the pleasure of spending and sharing a stage over the years , the places music the memories. Like the song goes ” I feel blessed to have been in that Number , When the Saints go Marching in ” Rest easy old Friend .