Mary Emma Gillis

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our precious ,gentle,loving mother,Mary Emma Gillis.on Wednesday,March 11th, at home surrounded by her loving family at the age of 93 years, Broad Cove, Inverness Co.

Born in Dunvegan,Inverness Co., on May 10,1921,she was the daughter of the late Angus A and Mary Ann (Kennedy) Gillis and last surviving member of her immediate family. Mary Emma was a fluent Gaelic speaker,as this was her first language.

She was recorded by a number of language academics and broadcasters from Canada,Scotland and Ireland.

As a young woman she and her lifelong best friend Mary Margaret went off to Boston to work for a while.When she returned she married Angus Gillis and together they worked very hard on their self-sufficient farm on the side of a beautiful mountain in Broad Cove. As a result of lots of practice, she became quite popular amongst her relatives and friends for her excellent homemade cheese & butter.

Mom always loved to have visitors,listen to Cape Breton fiddle music and Gaelic songs, she enjoyed many a good song from her son-in-law, Joe.She had many other interests but most of all she looked forward to the annual Broad Cove Concert each July. She just loved that weekend.

She had a strong Catholic faith which directed her daily life & she served as a volunteer at St.Margaret’s Parish office in the past.

She was a humble, honest person who possessed that inner strength and wisdom which so many people of her generation have.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her loving husband, Angus Gillis; her only sister, Catherine Jessie Mac Lellan and several nieces & nephews.

She is survived by daughters, Marilyn,Broad Cove; Ronelda, Dartmouth; Cathy Murphy (Joe),Dartmouth; son ,Angus Robert, Broad Cove; and was proud grandmother to Mary-Emma Murphy & Ruari Murphy. Many thanks to all our neighbours and relatives who have been so supportive.

Special thanks to Home Support Society and each and every care worker who came to our home.You all provided such professional & wonderful care to our mother & were so supportive & encouraging to our family. Also to Dr.R.Lok,Anne Lok,and in the past to Dr.C.B.MacLean

Also Dr. J. Ritter, Lorianne MacDonald, Fr.Duncan Mac Isaac, Isabel Eisenhauer,Mary and Albert Peddle, Anne MacLeod,Dolores Chapin,Isabel MacEachern, Pat MacLellan,Jerome MacEachern,Stanley Mac Eachen,Teresa Mac Pherson & the late Rannie Gillis.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Inverness County Home Support Society, Central Inverness Palliative Care Society, St. Margaret of Scotland Cemetery Fund ,Broad Cove. Visitation will be held in Inverness Funeral Home on Friday March 13 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. in St..Margaret of Scotland Church,Broad Cove with Fr.Duncan Mac Isaac officiating.Burial in the parish cemetery at a later date. On-line condolences may be made to www.invernessfuneralhome.com

“Fois Shiorruidh Dhi”