Sarah Catherine (Sadie) Gillis

Gillis, Sarah Catherine (Sadie) 89, of Liverpool, NS, formerly of Sydney Mines passed away peacefully in Queen’s General hospital on Feb. 18, 2010 surrounded by the love of family. Born on January 25, 1921 in Benacadie, Cape Breton, Sadie was the daughter of the late Neil R. and Sarah Catherine MacNeil. Blessed with a huge heart and a great capacity to love, Sadie followed her desire to care for others by becoming a nurse, graduating from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in 1944 with Provincial academic honours. Everyone benefitted from Sadie’s nurturing medical attention – patients, family, friends, relatives of friends, neighbours, neighbourhood children and even the occasional pet. She will be remembered for her compassionate, caring, and generous spirit, her love of skating, intellectual puzzles of all kinds, her wicked sense of humour and her never ending ability to find the good in everything. Although failing health necessitated a move from her beloved Cape Breton in 2007 to be closer to family, Sadie built a whole new network of friends and fans in Queen’s Manor. She was immensely proud of her Scottish heritage (MacNeil of Barra) and her first language Gaelic. She was still quoting Gaelic poetry on her birthday (Robbie Burns day) this year. Sadie was predeceased by her husband Lawrence and son Michael; brothers Roddie, Rannie, Neil, James, and sister Christina. She is survived by her sons Gerard, Yellowknife; Neil, Toronto, Christopher (Becky), Brampton; daughters Cathy MacDonald, Bedford; Sharon (Gerry) Mason, Mill Village; sister Ann Higgins, Fredericton; grandchildren Andrew, Peter, Geoffrey, Sarah, Nigel, Christopher, Vanessa, Sarah; dear and special friends Mary and Clifford Hall. Visiting will take place on Sunday Feb 21, 2010 2–5 pm in Francis Funeral Home, Main St. Sydney Mines; Funeral mass Monday Feb 22 at 10am Immaculate Conception Church, Sydney Mines, Father J.J. MacDonald presiding. Special thanks to everyone at Queen’s Manor Liverpool, the nursing staff at Queen’s General, especially Janet Himmelman; and Dr. Garry Morash. Family flowers only. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ronald C MacDonald MBA Scholarship at St. Mary’s University, www.smu.ca/administration/development/gift.html; 1888.SMU.GIVE; the Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke, other charities of your choice; or just be true to Sadie’s spirit and spread genuine kindness at every opportunity, that was her essence.