Joan Marie Cunningham (MacNeil), of Sydney, passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at Dartmouth General Hospital. Born November 29, 1935 in Westmount, Nova Scotia, to Joseph and Amelia (Barrie) MacNeil, Joan was the second youngest of fifteen children.
Joan grew up in Westmount and was a fun-loving athletic member of the community. She was in the first graduating class of Riverview Rural High School and a member of the basketball team. Working at the Point Edward Naval Base after graduation, Joan spent her first paycheck on a sewing machine and quickly became a master seamstress, sewing her own wedding dress. She continued her athletic career on the Base as a member of the all-female softball team and the all-female hockey team (which did not have enough players for a goalie).
Joan married her wonderful husband Vince in May 1960, and started their family in Montreal, living there from 1960 to 1965. Returning to Sydney, Joan focused on raising their five children. She enjoyed many hobbies becoming proficient at what ever she took on and willingly sharing her skill and knowledge with others. As an avid skier she went on to become an instructor sending many young children down the bunny hill for their first time at Ski Ben Eoin. She enjoyed creating and teaching stained glass, providing custom pieces for many individuals and institutions around Cape Breton. Some of her personal works grace the Chapel at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. As many who played cards with her can attest she was a shark never shying away from a game of Tarbish, Bridge or Rummy. She loved to garden and had a true green thumb. In her later years she took up golf, becoming a regular on the fairways at the Links at Ben Eoin with her golf buddies.
During the summers, Joan spent her time in Irish Cove with her family, enjoying a full house connecting with neighbours and welcoming friends and family alike. Joan most looked forward to attending Celtic Colours every year with Vince and her son Greg, where they enjoyed listening to music and meeting people from around the world.
Joan was the proud mother to five children: Greg (Ruth) Cunningham, Ann (Blair) MacKeigan, Paul (Sue) Cunningham, Joanie (Mathew) Cunningham and Carol (Robert) Cunningham Huott. Joan was a loving grandmother to Janice, Lauren, Jordan, Michael, James, Maria, Nico, Lily and Frances. Joan is also survived by her sister Ann Landry, brother Patrick, brother-in-law Barclay Cunningham, numerous nieces and nephews and leaves behind many lifelong family friends.
Joan was predeceased by her husband Vince; sisters, Cecilia ‘Jiggs’ Leveck, Dorothy Stewart and Margaret ‘Peggy’ Donaldson; brothers, Alexander, David, Donald, Edward, and Robert; half-sisters Marie, Sadie and Catherine; and half-brother John.
A Funeral Mass will be held on August 20, 2021 at 11 am at Holy Rosary Parish in West Mount with Fr. Doug Murphy officiating. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.twcurry.com.
