BUTLER, Decima (Anthony)
Born in: Clarkes Beach, Newfoundland, Canada
Born on: 07/01/1915
Passed away in: Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed away on: 27/10/2010
The Cape Breton Post, October 28, 2010
Decima Butler, age 95, passed away peacefully at Harbourstone Enhanced Care (LeVatte's Lane) with family at her side. Decima was born in Clarkes Beach, Nfld. and moved to Cape Breton in 1945. She was the loving mother to four children, Robert, Wayne (Sharon), Muriel (Wallace) Robert and Ruby Ferguson. Also surviving are her daughter-in-law, June Butler; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Decima was predeceased by her parents, Matthew and Mary Grace Anthony; husband, John Robert; son, Malcolm Charles; daughter, Mary Catherine; sisters, Pearl, Elizabeth and Bertha; brother in infancy; son-in-law, Alec Ferguson; granddaughter, Arlene and great-grandson, Shane. Visitation will take place at Sydney Memorial Chapel on Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A funeral service will be held in the chapel on Monday 11 a.m., with Rev. Thomas Whent officiating. Interment in Forest Haven Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Palliative Care Unit at the CBRH, Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of choice. Special thanks to the staff of LeVatte's Lane, Dr. Jackson and Palliative Care. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca

GABRIEL-LAKE, Hilda (Pafford)
Born in: North Harbour, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, Canada
Born on: 11/07/1919
Passed away in: Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed away on: 31/10/2010
The Cape Breton Post, November 1, 2010
Hilda Mary (Pafford) Gabriel-Lake, 91, Sydney, passed away peacefully Oct. 31, 2010, at the Cove Guest Home from end stage Alzheimer's disease.
Hilda was born July 11, 1919, in North Harbour, Placentia Bay, N.L. Her parents were Josiah and Eliza (Reid) Pafford. One of 12 children, she is survived by her youngest brother, Harold Pafford of Corner Brook. When her mother remarried after her father's death due to illness Hilda became part of a combined family of 20 children. Hilda completed her education in St. John's and moved to Corner Brook where she met and married her first husband Harold Gabriel in 1938. They raised their family of six children in Sydney.

Hilda had fond memories of her time working at Colby Market and the Salvation Army and after she was widowed in 1964 realized a childhood dream of operating a grocery store as owner of Hillside Dairy on George Street in Sydney. At 53, she started a career as owner of a hotel/ boarding house on Brazil Square in St. John's. She worked tirelessly there to provide a home atmosphere for her guests, often entire families from coastal communities visiting relatives in hospital. While in St. John's, Hilda met and married her second husband, Bill Lake. They shared a happy marriage in Sydney and Newfoundland until his death in 2005.

Hilda regularly attended Christ Church in Sydney where she volunteered in the Altar Guild. An avid reader, she valued learning and encouraged all her children to educate themselves. All those who have known Hilda will remember her as a loving person whose life was centered on her home, family and friends.

Hilda is survived by her children, Reg (Helen), British Columbia, Bill (Joan, deceased), Ontario, Harold (Pat) Bridgewater, Linda (Ib Lauritsen), Ontario, David (Sandra), Sydney, and Gordon (Bev), Sydney; grandchildren, Linda Marie, Reggie, James, Harold, Matthew, Erica, Charlie, Donna, Kim, Christine, Geoffrey, Ruth, Emily, Carrie Ellen, Michael, Adam; step grandchildren, Tosha, Anne, Nancy, Jason, Tracy and great-grandchildren, David, Emma, Lily, Theo, Nicholas, Hilary, Matthew, Ciara, Ella, Lucas, Jamie, Jacob, Lindsay, Dorian, Ryelyn, Keagan and Lakelin. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Walter. Visitation will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Sydney Memorial Chapel. Funeral service will take place Wednesday, 10 a.m. at the Church of Christ the King, with Rev. Glen Kent officiating. Reception will follow at the church hall. Interment will be in Forest Haven Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to the Cove Guest Home, the Salvation Army Parkdale House or the Church of Christ the King or charity of choice. Hilda's family wishes to express their sincere thanks to the staff of the Cove Guest Home and especially the Creative Care unit for their highly professional and loving care over the last four years. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca

HALEY, Mary
Born in: Lamaline, Newfoundland, Canada
Born on: 01/03/1939
Passed away in: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed away on: 09/10/2010
The Cape Breton Post, October 12, 2010
It is with sadness that we, the family of Mary Haley, formerly of 26 Summer St., North Sydney, announce that she has passed. She was born in Lamaline, N.L., March 1, 1939, to Bernard and Teresa Haley, and came to North Sydney to attend the wedding of Teresa and Kevin Armstrong, on June 27, 1959. She remained in North Sydney and became an integral part of the Armstrong family. She worked for most of her life at the Metropolitan Store in North Sydney, and was an avid bingo and card player. She enjoyed doing crafts such as knitting and sewing and built her life around her family and friends.

She lived her life with a zest for living and enjoyed taking care and being part of the Armstrong family. She adored Teresa and Kevin's daughter, Mary Beth, and son, Kevin. With the marriage of Kevin to Gladys, and the birth of their two children, David and Haley, Mary had another generation of Armstrongs to love. With Gladys, Kevin's wife, she found a 'daughter' of her own. When Mary was unable to live on her own it was her 'daughter' Gladys that made her life comfortable. For the last four years of her life Mary resided at Harbourstone in Sydney where she quickly became a favourite of the people that helped Gladys look after her.

She is survived by her brother, Will (Mercedes) Haley, of Lamaline, N.L.; and the Armstrong family. There will be no visitation as per Mary's wishes. A celebration of Mary's life will be held Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 10 a.m., from St. Joseph Church, North Sydney, with Rev. Jim Attwood officiating. At the request of the family, anyone wishing to celebrate Mary's life are asked to make a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia or the Children's Wish Foundation. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, North Sydney. Online condolences may be sent to info@wjdooley.com

MacDONALD, Mary Violet (Dawe)
Born on: 08/02/1912
Passed away in: Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed away on: 30/10/2010
The Cape Breton Post, November 2, 2010
Mary Violet (Dawe) MacDonald, 98, of New Victoria, died peacefully Saturday morning, Oct. 30, 2010. She had been residing at the Congregation of Notre Dame Health Care Center, MacGillivray Guest Home, Sydney, since May, 2010.

Born Feb. 8, 1912, Mae was a longtime resident of Whitney Pier and member of Holy Redeemer parish. She was a daughter of the late Ronald and Mary Louise (Berthier) Dawe; granddaughter of Robert Roderick and Norah (Hall) Dawe of Newfoundland and George Damase and Charlotte Caroline (Landry) Berthier of L'Ardoise. She was predeceased by husband, Neil James MacDonald; sisters, Charlotte Dawe and Patricia (Dan Hugh McInnis), Antigonish and brother, Harold Dawe (Alice Young), South Bar, Cape Breton. She is survived by daughter, Annette (Robert Purcell) of Sydney and grandchildren, Thomas Lathigee, Dartmouth, Anita (John Dalton) and Andrew Lathigee (Cynthia Lush), Halifax; son, Michael and grandchildren, Sonya, Karen (David Hawkins), Arlene (Jason Lettues), all of Sydney, and Michael (Patricia Kibyuk), Glace Bay; son, Neil Vincent, New Victoria; daughter, Rosemary (Donald McLean) D'Escousse, Cape Breton and grandchildren, Jenny (Adan Lopes-Sanchez), Halifax, Nancy (Keepeng Lau), Port Williams, Charlotte (Aaron Mahoney), Vancouver, Joseph, Wolfville and Mary, Antigonish; son Ronald (Audrey Tighe), New Victoria and grandchildren, Jason (Angela Brenneman), Kitchener, Ont. and Laura (Faren Doucette), Halifax. She is also survived by great-grandchildren, Andrew Austen Lathigee, Lincoln Creaser, Michael and Faith Hawkins, Dylan Lettues, Isabel and Anna Lopez-McLean, Bethany and Danika Mahoney and Ellen Kai-Li Lau; as well as many nieces and nephews.

After graduating from the Nova Scotia Normal College in 1930, Mae began teaching at Cape George School, Ballantyne's Cove, Antigonish. She also taught at Low Point, (the present New Victoria, Cape Breton County). Her family grown, she returned to teaching in Sydney at Villanova Elementary and Holy Redeemer High School and in 1976 retired from Holy Angels High School. Her love of learning and the extensive breadth of her interests were lifelong. She continued to read widely, and to be a wise friend and advisor to her five children.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of McLellan Brothers Funeral Home, New Waterford. As our mother wished, cremation has taken place and the immediate family will attend a service of interment at St. Joseph's Cemetery, New Victoria. Father Raymond Huntley will conduct a memorial mass at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20, at St. Leonard's Parish Church, New Waterford. A reception will be held immediately following the mass at the parish hall, 310 Convent St., New Waterford, all are welcome. Donations may be made in our mother's memory to the Cape Breton Regional Library, the Scarboro missions or to a charity of choice To express your condolences directly to the family please go to www.mclellanfuneralhome.com

SPURVEY, Caroline (Griffiths)
Born in: Grand Falls, Newfoundland, Canada
Born on: 16/02/1926
Passed away in: Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed away on: 11/10/2010
The Cape Breton Post, October 13, 2010
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear mother, Caroline Spurvey at York Manor, on Monday, Oct. 11, 2010. Born in Grand Falls, N.L., she was the daughter of the late Michael and Theresa Griffiths. The family moved to Sydney when she was a small child. She lived there until 1994 when she relocated to Fredericton, N.B. to live with her daughter.

Caroline was a homemaker raising eight children. She loved to travel and enjoyed listening to country music. Caroline is survived by her eight children, Rita Henry (Ron), Fredericton, N.B., Angela Taylor (Bernie), Guelph, Ont., Lillian Warren (Ken), Sydney, N.S., Carol Grice (Tim), Niagara Falls, Ont., Deborah Pearse (Michael), Burlington, Ont., James (Grace), Fredericton, N.B., Garry (Wanda), North Sydney, N.S., Dennis (Donna), Sydney, N.S.; 20 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Caroline was predeceased by her loving husband, Matthew, son, Donnie, sister, Genevieve, brothers, Michael and Thomas. Visitation will take place Thursday, Oct. 14 at the S.W. Chant & Son Funeral Home, 564 Alexandra St., Sydney from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 15 in the funeral home chapel with Fr. Conrad Edwards officiating. Interment to follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks. Online condolences may be sent to our webpage at www.chantfuneralhome.com