Mary Margaret Morley

Mary Margaret Morley of Cape Breton and Halifax, passed away on November 23, 2017 at age 97. Born in Sydney in 1920, she was the daughter of the late John Ambrose and Agnes (Currie) MacKinnon. She grew up in Sydney’s north end with her nine brothers and sisters. She went to Holy Angels High School where she played basketball and could throw a mean fastball if a baseball game came along. After marriage to Charlie Morley in 1953, she lived on Alexander St., Point Edward, Harrison Avenue in Sydney and Thompson Ave in Sydney River, before moving to Renous, New Brunswick and then Halifax. Despite all of the moves, she made sure her children were connected to home and to her big extended family. Cape Breton was always home to mom. She loved a day at the beach, usually Marble Mountain, Shenacadie or Big Pond. She enjoyed the occasional family ceilidh, always a time of step dancing, Gaelic singing, and storytelling. Mom would never lead off, but she would always quickly join in. Some of the tunes and some of the steps even made it to the next generation. Dad would always say, it was hard to get her to a party and even harder to get her to leave. Mom worked in a dental practice in Sydney and at Woolworths on Charlotte St. Once in Halifax, she was one of the first employees of Woolco’s new store in Scotia Square where she worked for ten years. Mom purchased land in East Bay, Cape Breton with monthly payments from her Woolco pay. With this land they built their retirement home together, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Mom spent many happy years hosting family there particularly at Christmas and summer vacations. Mom loved to garden in East Bay, although some years it seemed more about feeding the rabbits and the deer. She lived in East Bay for ten years after Dad’s passing, returning to live in Halifax when she was in her mid-seventies. In Halifax, she always felt fortunate to be surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She could always be relied on for caregiving or helping with homework. She particularly enjoyed the French homework, and after three children and seven grandchildren, she seemed to pick up the language, much to everyone’s surprise.

Mom was a smart woman. She was extremely well read and well-informed on medical issues, Canadian politics, and world events. Mom was one of those people who remembered everyone’s name. In recent years, it was fun to watch her call a caregiver by her correct name, whom she only met once several weeks previously. She fondly remembered the “Newfoundland ladies” that stayed with her when she was in her early 90s with whom she shared many great laughs.

Mom had a relentlessly optimistic view of the life. Despite health challenges in recent years, when asked how she was doing, she always replied… I’m getting there, better than yesterday”. Mom was a woman of strong faith and met death with courage and grace. In her last moments on earth, she was still comforting and giving her strength to those she was leaving behind. God love her.

She is survived by her son, Fred (Denise) Morley, Halifax; and daughters, Dr. Charlotte Morley (Baden Connolly), Halifax; Anne Louise Morley (Gerry Harte), Halifax and Brantford Ontario; and seven grandchildren, Claire (Tom Adams), Colleen, Margaret (Jamie Kinch), Alison, Jennifer, John and Julia. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles S. Morley in 1986, sisters, Jessie MacKinnon and Catherine (Fred) MacDonald, and seven brothers, Fr. John, Daniel, John A., Alex, Bernard, Sylvester and James in infancy. She is remembered by surviving brother in law, Fr. Fred Morley of Sydney.

Visitation will take place at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, November 30th. Funeral service will be held at St. Agnes Church at 6903 Mumford Road on Friday, December 1st, at 10 am. A graveside service will be held at St. Mary’s Church Cemetery, East Bay, at a later date.