Daniel J MacDougall

Today God asked one of his angels to come home and what an angel he was. His smile, his warm laugh, and his kind heart will be rembered by all he touched. His strength of character, his compassion, and his energy will continue to be felt well into the future. He was truly a beacon of light in the darkness and a special song in the silence.

Daniel James MacDougall died peacefully on November 28, 2017 at his lifetime home in Little Judique, Nova Scotia, surrounded by his loving family.

Danny was born on April 27, 1948 in Sydney Mines and was the son of the late Daniel Hugh and Marie (Steele) MacDougall. At the age of two he went to live with his father's cousin, Annie (MacDougall) and her husband, Alex James MacDonald of Little Judique where they raised Danny as one of their own. Danny and the Love of his life, Anne, brought up their five beautiful children in that same home overlooking his much loved Little Judique Harbour.

This Harbour, along with the ocean, the beaches, the rivers, and the lakes, was a magical place for Danny, always bringing him a sense of joy and peace. He loved sharing all his special places with his beloved grandchildren and in his retirement he spent many happy hours teaching them to enjoy the simple things in life, from skipping stones at the beach, to fishing in the pond, to riding 4 wheelers on the Ceilidh Trail.

The Harbour also instilled in Danny a strong work ethic. It was here that he fished for lobster as a boy and a young man. The natural world always played an important role in his life. He eventually had a long and rewarding career of thirty-two years with the Department of Highways and Transportation where he gained many friends and earned a reputation as a hard working and skillful employee, capable of handling every aspect of his job.

Looking at Danny's life experiences, it is not difficult to understand where he gained his appreciation of family and friends, his love of nature, and his lifelong passion for boats, trucks, cars, and most of all, his precious yellow VW bug.

Always a gentle, giving, and compassionate soul, Danny was deeply involved in his community of Port Hood, Cape Breton where he was loved by so many. As a proud member of the Knight's of Columbus, he worked at the local food bank; he was also a valued member of the Port Hood Fire Department.

He is survived by his loving wife of forty-seven years, Anne (Gillis); by their children, Alex,(Lisa Sutherland - Daniel, Rachel, Brittney, Summer); Stephen (Meghan Butler Grantham - Riley, Logan, Dylan); Cythia Fitzner ( Cory- Liam, Emma); Paul (Marcelle Gaudet); and by his stepmother, Minnie MacDougall; his sisters, Thelma MacIntyre and Elaine Chisholm. Danny was predeceased by his eldest daughter, Shelley; his birth parents; his foster parents; brothers, Frankie, Jimmy, Roderick, Douglas, and Jimmy; and sister, Theresa.

Visitation for Danny will be held in the Port Hood and Area Resting Place on Friday, December 1, from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be held in Saint Peter's Church, Port Hood, on Saturday, December 2 at 11 a.m. with Father Vincent vanZutphen officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Central Inverness Palliative Care Society, the Port Hood Resting Place, or any non-profit pet rescue organization.

On-line condolences may be made to: www.invernessfuneralhome.com