On May 24, 2021, Ian Neil McDonald, long time resident of Sydney Forks, passed away in the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Born on Nov. 24, 1947 to the late John and Marcella (MacKinnon) McDonald, Sydney.
Ian always worked with his family. He drove trucks with McDonald’s Transfer and later drilled wells with the family-run business Island Well Drillers. In 2010 Ian Truck retired and referred to himself as WELL DUN.
Ian is survived by his wife Rose (Gillis) McDonald and daughters Kate McDonald, Halifax, Jan (Paul) LeMoine, Sydney, Helen (Onur) Pakkanlilar, Halifax, Terri (Jack) Chafe, Howie Centre, and Faye McDonald, Sydney. Papa also leaves behind the joys of his later years, his grandchildren : J.R., Colin and Neil Chafe and Bailey LeMoine.
Ian’s siblings Jamie (Barbara) McDonald, Blair (Norma) McDonald and Joyce (Owen) Fitzgerald also mourn their brother’s death. In-laws Vincent (Deborah) Gillis, Jane Gillis, Norma (Alan ) MacNeil and Leanne (Scott Christie) Gillis are saddened as well.
In addition to his parents, Ian was predeceased by in-laws Bernard & Anne (MacPhee) Gillis, Stephen Gillis, and nephew John McDonald.
Ian was very grateful for a special team of close friends & relatives that supported him physically & emotionally. Ian relied on them even more in the past number of years. Ian & his family truly appreciated the VON, CB County Homemakers, the staff at Red Cross, Innomar & Sydney River Shoppers Drug Mart, EHS ambulance service, Howie Centre Fire Dept, his family physician Dr. M. Fraser, and the team at the CB Regional Hospital, where he always received the best of care.
In March 2021, as his health continued to fail, Ian expressed these words : ‘I can’t believe it’s over. It ended too quick for me.’ We, Ian’s family, agree.
In memory of Ian’s kind-hearted nature, please help someone in need or donate to a charity of your choice. On-line condolences can be expressed at www.twcurry.com. Ian’s cremated remains will be intered in St. Mary’s Parish Cemetery, East Bay at a later date.
