Obituary of Colleen Graham, Glace Bay

We announce the passing of Colleen Graham at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital on 12 November, 2018, aged 90. She was the daughter of Annie and Billy O’Neill of Chapel Hill and lived her whole life in Glace Bay.

She worked as a young woman at Eaton’s, where she made many long-time friends. She loved to sing and was a member of Saint Anne’s Church Choir for many years. She took pride in having volunteered with The Canadian Cancer Society, Literacy Nova Scotia (Each One- Teach One), and The Palliative Care Service.

Colleen loved being among friends and family, making great fun hearing and telling stories and was delighted to have visitors on Concord St at any hour. She was a strong believer in family ties and found pleasure in reaching  out to relatives near and far. Colleen and Charlie frequently travelled. They visited their children and grandchildren in Halifax, New York, and Portugal and spent a great deal of time in Middle River with their daughter and grandchildren.

Colleen is predeceased by Charlie, her husband of 63 years, her parents, brother Thomas, and sister Genevieve LeBlanc.

She is survived by sister Elaine O’Neill Boutilier (Stewiake), son Brian and wife Emilie (New York), son Erin (Halifax), daughter Nancy deMello (Middle River), seven grandchildren -Louisa and Adrien, Eric, Alexis (Derrick), Anna, Louis, and Miguel- and one great-grandchild, Maddox. 

A funeral mass will be celebrated at Saint Anne’s Church in Glace Bay on Monday, 19 November, at 10:30 am with a reception following. There will be no visitation. The family kindly thanks her VON caregivers.

Offers of condolence can be sent directly to family members or through V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, Glace Bay website: www.vjmcgillivray.ca