Obituary of Mary Josephine Rankin

RANKIN, Mary Josephine Caribou Mary J. Rankin died peacefully on Saturday, January 11th, 2025, at the age of 97. She was born in Tewksbury, MA. She was orphaned at a young age and was raised in a foster home. She became an LPN and worked for several years in that area. She married Chester MacMillan and moved to S. Easton, MA. There she created a wonderful home in an old Cape Cod farmhouse. She had a keen interest in antiques and loved to explore the many shops in the New England area. A passion she passed on to her son, Chet. She delighted in her two children and went above and beyond making every day special. Her cookies were renowned in the neighbourhood, especially the whoopie pies! Mary moved to Nova Scotia once her children were grown. She settled on Pictou Island, the ancestral home of her husband’s family, where they had summered for years. She eventually married Edward Rankin and turned his house into a warm and welcoming home. She enjoyed walking the beaches collecting sea glass, picking berries, gardening, pickling and, of course, baking something every day. The island children looked forward to visiting the “big house”, having biscuits with jam and a cup of tea with Mary…followed by a chance to dip their hands in her never empty candy dish! She spent the last 20 years of her life in Central Caribou. She was predeceased by both her husbands. She is survived by her children, Chester MacMillan, Portland, ME and Linda Pratt, Stafford, VA and three grandchildren. Special thanks to the staff at the Aberdeen Hospital, her support group from Home Care and her good friends Judy Pope, Gretchen Maguire, Marilyn Wallace, Marion and Gregg MacDonald. Cremation has taken place. There will be a Celebration of Life for her this spring. “Life gave her lemons, and she made the best pies”