Obituary of Elizabeth Rose MacKenzie

MacKENZIE, Elizabeth R. Toney Mills MacKenzie, Elizabeth Rose ~ Many tears have fallen since Elizabeth (Liz) Rose MacKenzie left us all on February 12, 2022. Now is the time to smile and celebrate the life that she led and how she touched us all. The family would love for you to join them for the celebration of her life at St. David’s Presbyterian Church, Toney River, Pictou Co. on Saturday September 10th, 2022 at 11 AM. Reception to follow at Toney River Community Hall. Family flowers only by request. Donations in Liz’s memory may be made to St. David’s Presbyterian Church or the Toney River Community Hall. ~Those we love truly never leave us. FULL OBITUARY: Elizabeth Rose MacKenzie ~ 81, of Toney Mills. It is with great sadness and broken hearts that we announce the passing of our Mother on February 12th, 2022 after 9 months of battling pancreatic cancer with courage and determination. She was born on May 23rd, 1940 and raised in Poplar Hill, Pictou County, where she gathered many stories about life on the farm with her eight brothers and sisters. Mom graduated from Pictou Academy in 1958. She attended Normal College and began her 35-year teaching career in 1959 in a one room schoolhouse in King’s Head, moving on to West Side School, Abercrombie School (where she was principal), and Hopewell School. She ended her teaching career at Dr W.A. MacLeod Elementary School for the remaining 20 years, where she made countless lifelong friends. Mom’s true passion was teaching, as she took on the challenges of each day with dedication and commitment. Every child mattered. She would be the first to arrive at school and the last to leave. Mom and Dad were 12 days shy of celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary together. They were married February 23rd, 1962 during a huge snowstorm. They resided in Hopewell most of their married life, but loved “The Farm” in Toney Mills so much that, when she retired, they moved to the farm permanently. Mom often spoke of the love she had for the sunsets, sunrises and the beauty of the surrounding fields and wildlife. The lawn and gardens were a great source of pride for both Mom and Dad. Mom could be found in stilettos with an up-do, dressed to the nines back in the day in a classroom, or you might see her hauling a load of hay for Dad to the barn during hay season, as well as helping with the fencing. She has been known to herd cows and chase horses. She loved to garden, shop till she dropped, travel, attend church, Saturday night old time dances were a must, enjoyed many exhibitions, bake up a storm and cook huge meals for everyone to enjoy. Mom was known for her love of sending and receiving cards in the mail for all occasions. No matter what the task, it was always done with class. She is survived by her husband, Robert (Bobby) MacKenzie and their two daughters, Michelle MacKenzie (Donald MacKenzie), Hopewell and Patti MacKenzie Martin (Tim Martin), Halifax. Mom was predeceased by her parents, Lee Roy (1976) and Minnie (1982) (MacKay) Clark; brothers, Russell, Albert, Lewie and Alvin; sister, Catherine Goodall; sister-in-law, Shirley Clark and brothers-in-law, Ken MacArthur and James Munroe. She is survived by sisters, Margaret MacArthur, Martha (Doug) Farquhar, Beatrice Munroe; sisters-in-law, Mary Clark and Marie Langille; numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by grandchildren, Meghan and Donald (Tiffany) MacKenzie, Keegan and Hayden Martin; and great-grandchildren, Allison and Thomas Bradley and Eilidh MacKenzie. Mom enjoyed her grandchildren to the fullest. She spent countless hours with them, teaching them cursive writing, gardening, sewing, baking and everything in between. Meghan and Donald were blessed to live so close to the Grammie and Grampie who offered them many random visits growing up. She received thousands of phones calls, and then texts, from Keegan and Hayden in Halifax looking for advice, just to chat or make plans for their next visit. The grandchildren enjoyed weeklong visits with Grammie and Grampie during March Break, Christmas and Summer Vacation. Both Mom and Dad have given their grandchildren so many precious memories to hold on to (and lots of pictures as well). Their hearts are broken. We would like to thank Lawton Drugs Pharmacy, New Glasgow and Russel Metals, Halifax for being flexible, accommodating and compassionate. Your generosity gave us the opportunity to stay with our Mom, week about, as her support from September until present. You have given us a special gift of time that can never be replaced. Thank you to all our coworkers for their support during this very difficult time. Thank you Dr. Brad McDougall for his care and compassion. Our VON Nurses! We looked forward to each visit, morning and night. Special thanks to Lucy, Shelby and Linden Dale. With their caring touch and big hearts, they weaved into our family like they had been friends for years. We were so blessed to have Darlene (Russell) Bates, a close family friend, at our side to assist us in Mom’s care for her last time at the farm. Her loving manner and experience was a huge help and support to us. We are so grateful to Palliative Care Aberdeen Hospital. We would also like to thank McLaren Funeral Home for their help and compassion. Cremation has taken place. Donations in Mom’s memory may be made to Toney River Community Hall, Lisa Bain Gratto, 1831 Toney River Road, River John, B0K 1N0 or St. David’s Presbyterian Church, Beverly Patterson, 2203 Meadowville Station Road, Toney River, B0K 1R0. ~Those we love truly never leave us.