330 Smith Street
New Waterford, NS
902-849-4505
CREMATION~CHAPEL~RECEPTION
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Lynn posted a condolence
Sunday, September 13, 2020
Wonderful memories ... I was one of Doris’ youngest students...attending the Doris MacDonald School of Dance when I was 3 yrs. old (1968)! Love and will always be grateful for the joy, beauty and art of dance. Shuffle one, shuffle two, shuffle three, bang! bang! Thank you Ms Doris! Lynn MacMullin
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Elizabeth uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, August 2, 2020
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So very sorry for your loss. She seemed like a very nice lady. I was a part of MacDonald Dance Academy as a little girl. Thinking of all of you. Take care.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Ann Mac Donald (daughter of Patricia and Vern Mac Donald)
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Eileen Morford-Martin posted a condolence
Sunday, August 2, 2020
Like Doris, my mother was a war bride. They enjoyed many lunches and parties with their war bride friends. My sisters and I enjoyed their company, their stories, and their love for each other at these occasions to which we would be invited. So few are left. Doris was a wonderful lady with a rich history and a staunch supporter of the things to which she devoted her life. Like those who have passed before her, she will be missed by those left behind. Our thoughts and our prayers are with the family.
Sincerely,
Eileen Morford-Martin
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Colleen Dicks posted a condolence
Friday, July 31, 2020
I started dancing with Doris when I was 8 and spent 16 wonderful years with her. 1970-1986 when I finished college and moved to Halifax. I loved her and Allan. Sometimes they would drive me home on their way to New Waterford and back then, I got to have Miss Cindy on my lap. She was the most loved dog ever.
RIP beautiful lady
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Linda Brown posted a condolence
Friday, July 31, 2020
My condolences to the Macdonald family god bless
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Karen (Elworthy) Sampson posted a condolence
Thursday, July 30, 2020
I was one of many young women, who was afforded the wonderful pleasure of taking dance lessons through Doris MacDonald. She left an indelible mark on us all. R.I.P. gracious lady.
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Barb Gillen posted a condolence
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Sincerest sympathy from Barb Gillen, mom of the dancers Amy and Joanna Gillen.
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Rob Grezel posted a condolence
Thursday, July 30, 2020
On behalf of Fort Petrie Military Museum we send our deepest condolence to all that had the great pleasure of knowing this great lady and all of the wonderful things she accomplished through her beautiful life, may she rest peacefully and happy in the loving arms of god
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Katie Jane MacLean-Shaikh lit a candle
Thursday, July 30, 2020
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Doris was my first dance instructor (ballet, Jazz, and tap), and my cousins, friends, and I loved going to her classes every Saturday in North Sydney, throughout our childhood. The end of year concerts were big productions, and we felt like stars on the stage! Allan was often there, and their love was evident to us all, I had no idea the incredible life she had! Thank you for sharing her amazing story with us all. My sympathies are with all her loved ones. Wow! What an incredible woman!
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Deborahsampson2019@gmail.com posted a condolence
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Doris was such a wonderful lady. Both my daughters took classes with her for many years and loved her dearly. I also as a young girl started classes with her in 1957. She was a brilliant teacher and loved by many. RIP Doris, you and Allan are dancing together once again.
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Conrad Worrell posted a condolence
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Doris was like a second mom to me. A great mentor, teacher and friend. Was so glad to visit her last summer and relive some of the great memories we shared.Doris and Allan together again. Rest in peace until we meet again.
Conrad Worrell
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Kay Ann Meagher posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
I haven't seen Doris for many years but Alan was my father's first cousin and I have fond memories of their visits to our home in Halifax in the past. When I think of Doris I think of the word "gracious" . Her gracious could not be missed and it was spurred on by her kindness. A child notices those things. She must have been a much beloved teacher . May she rest in peace !
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Marjorie (Moffatt) Walther posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
I have such fond memories of my dancing years with Doris MacDonald. I admired her grace, patience and incredible dedication to her dancers. She has impacted so many lives and leaves behind a wonderful legacy. She will be truly missed.
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Lindalaffin@gmail.com posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Doris MacDonald first danced her way into the heart of Allan MacDonald, and then shared her heart and dance moves with countless young New Waterford girls (myself included). While her dance school and reputation deservedly grew, I believe her greatest contributions were to the memories of all those who fought and sacrificed so much during WWII. Both my parents were veterans and always appreciated the work Allan and Doris did on behalf of the New Waterford Legion. A long life well-lived and one that should be long remembered.
Linda Laffin
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Laura Lee Langley posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Doris was a giant in my life. She taught me so much more than dance. Through her I learned about hard work, chasing my dreams, and how to triumph and fail with grace. I learned confidence, poise, teamwork, and responsibility. I hope she knows the influence she had on my path in life. I loved her. Godspeed Doris.
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Layne and Joslynn White posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Doris was such a wonderful lady and so great with the kids. Our daughter Megan thought the world of Doris and did a school project about Doris's life as a dance teacher and war bride.Cape Breton is a better place because of Doris and she will be missed greatly.
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Donna (Andrews) MacRury posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
I was a student of Doris MacDonald for many years. Doris was a wonderful woman who shared her gift with so many of us.
She and Alan were quite a hard working and happy team.....Now together again.
Rest In Peace
Donna (Andrews) MacRury
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Ronda Leclair posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Growing up in Glace Bay, It was a privilege if you were to be part of the Doris MacDonald dance school. I remember going to the performances every year. Rest in Peace Doris. You certainly were an icon and will be fondly remembered. My condolences to your family and friends.
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Rita Blumson posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
I was only 6 years of age when you joined Allan in Canada and it wasn't until your brother Paul got in touch with me through "Ancestry" looking for relatives of your Dad that we were able to speak on the phone, 74 years later. I was very excited when you kindly sent your wedding photograph with me as a bridesmaid, it was the first time that I had seen it, I remember that it was a very cold day and I was wearing a fur cape.
I am pleased that after so long we were in touch and am sorry that the time was so short.
Cousin Rita x
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Nancy MUNROE Horton posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
My childhood memories are rooted in New Waterford and part of those memories is taking dance lessons with Doris. She was certainly an icon.
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Paul & June Falconer posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Thank you Doris for all the lovely memories we shared with you and Allan. We enjoyed many a lunch with you both with the War Brides and our visits to the Legion.
Brother Paul and June
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donna_mullins@hitmail.com posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Doris taught both our daughters Michelle & LeeAnne Mullins from Reserve Mines for years, they started when they were both 4 years old. Michelle went right through Dance Academy until she graduated High School and during her high school years helped teach the younger dancers. LeeAnne stayed in dance until grade 10. We always enjoyed the beautiful dance recitals. Our girls have wonderful memories and met so many lovely girls over the years who still remain friends. I was a dance Mom who helped back stage and enjoyed doing it. My husband and I and our daughters were very sad to hear Doris passed. Our condolences to the families.
Donna & Shelly Mullins
Reserve Mines
Desiree Cable posted a condolence
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Doris was my tap and ballet instructor for 11 years. I had no idea at the time of the impact she would and did have on peoples lives. I remember my time dancing in her studio fondly. My condolences to her loved ones.
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Georgia Metcalfe Tripp uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
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I was part of the Doris MacDonald Dance family for many, many years in my youth, and what continues to stand out to me most in memories of that time isn’t the dance routines, new friends, or the specific skills I acquired – it’s Doris herself.
What an incredibly brilliant woman who impacted so many generations in so many different ways. I had a particularly wonderful relationship with her even from a very young age in the academy. It’s funny that she often said, “We Brits are tough” because she was the kindest person to me at the academy. At Christmas, I remember her often giving me little holiday decorations/gifts, as I walked down the steps of the dance hall in Glace Bay waiting in the entrance for my parents to pick me up. She’d say, “Just wait there one moment, I have something for you.” She even invented a one-off award that I was presented with at the end of the 92-93 season at the Savoy Theatre. An act that inspired me to “invent” my own awards for students when I taught swimming and skiing lessons in Sydney and East Bay, Nova Scotia while in high school. I absolutely loved dance class, and that was thanks to Doris.
There’s no doubt that Doris loved the art of dance, but she also loved people, thinking outside the box and had an innate ability to size people up, and quickly. She was extremely generous when it counted, courageous and a visionary of her time. Even today I cannot truly articulate how much I respected her and cared for her. The lessons we all learned from her influence much deeper than one might think. Her own ambition, courage, and tenacity certainly came through weekly – inspiring myself and many others that I shared the dance floor with. To know Doris was to love her. She helped inspire and expose all of us to those same amiable qualities that she herself had by simply being herself – for that, I am truly grateful.
I regret that I didn’t keep in contact with her over the years. She had a joie de vivre for life, people, and positive energy that I have fondly reflected upon many times throughout the years.
My deepest condolences to her family at this time. Please know that Doris brought so much joy and opportunity into the lives of so many during her time on this Earth. She was a wonderful role model and her legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of us all. We are all better for knowing her.
Warmly,
Georgia
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Hugh maclellan posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Doris was an elegant lady , she made her community and the world around her a better place .rip
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Muriel BLACKWOOD posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
TO THE MACDONALD FAMILY, WE ARE SO SORRY TO HEAR OF THE PASSSING OF DORIS. SHE WAS A LOVELY LADY. OUR THREE DAUGHTERS WERE STUDENTS 0F HER DANCING LESSONS. MAY SHE REST IN PEACE. SINCERELY, MURIEL , DONNA, KAREN & JUDY BLACKWOOD.
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Lynn Clarke posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
She certainly touched a lot of lives in Cape Breton, We were lucky Alan brought her here
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Gail Sheppard posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
atico.ca. Our deepest condolences on the passing of a wonderful lady. Rest in Peace.
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Melissa Vokey lit a candle
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
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My deepest condolences to her family at this time. Doris brought so much opportunity, and joy, into the lives of many young girls through dance. I have many wonderful memories of my days learning dance, and made many friendships I may never had made if it weren't for her. She truly loved what she did and loved all of the dancers as her own. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.
-Melissa Vokey
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Denise Jardine posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
For the past day and a half, I have been trying to gather my thoughts ( which have been everywhere ) in order to try to fully and with the utmost respect pay tribute to Doris .
When I first found out on Sunday night , I was so taken back, some how I thought with that strong English blood , she was still going to be with us for a while yet . I picked up the phone and called Amy ( Gillen ) Farris because I knew she was the person who would mourn Doris in the same way as myself.
For many years we were a team ( Doris, Allen, Amy and Denise) ... we were our own little family . We worked together, traveled together, drove each other up the wall sometimes, but above it all we loved each other !!!! When Allen passed away , we thought what will happen to Doris ? How can there be a Doris without Allen? But she surprised and thrilled us as she continued on surrounded by her friends and Allen’s family who have been so incredibly good to her .
To think about her , to try and put into words what she has meant to not only Amy and I but an incredibly large family of dancers is a huge task !!!!
First of all, let’s just think about how brave she was . At a tender age , while living and working through WWII, she meant a young Cape Breton soldier who would become the love of her life and vice versa ..... she left with a group of young women ( whom she forever stayed in touch with ) , leaving everything she had ever known , her family, friends , her life , and sailed to Nova Scotia and then traveled to New Waterford which would become her forever home. Just think about how scared these “ War Brides” must have been, think about how brave they were , how much in love they had to have been . ❤️❤️
As she settled into her new life and Allen headed back to the Coal Mines to work , she knew she had to do something to occupy her time . The one thing she knew the best , the thing she trained for her whole life in England was this wonderful and amazing thing we call Dance. Without a doubt in my mind , Doris MacDonald is responsible for bringing dance ( Tap, Jazz and Ballet ) to Cape Breton . Every dance school can trace their roots back to Doris !!!! She has changed and affected the lives of so many people in the most wonderful way. She and Allen gave so much of their time and heart to every dancer as well as spending endless hours working with the War Brides and of course with the veterans and the New Waterford Legion .
To all the dance teachers who owe their start in dance to Doris , let us say Thank You . Let us continue to make her proud and honour her memory by giving our all to each and every dancer, to in still in them a passion that we know we could not live without .
To our D&R Dance Family, know that we are in each other’s lives because of the courage and love of a young War Bride who would leave on the bus with a couple of records and her little record player and head into Sydney to teach a few eager students , never knowing how big it would grow .... For a couple who never had children of their own , they certainly had a huge family.
My thoughts now are about Doris and Allen, about their Reunion in heaven , I know they are in each other’s arms and dancing , finally , dancing together again ❤️❤️
Thank You Doris from the bottom of our hearts .... You will always be in our thoughts and prayers ... You will never be forgotten.... Until we meet again ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Denise and Amy
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Dianenordine12@gmail.com Posted Jul 28, 2020 at 12:14 PM
Beautiful tribute, such a legacy Doris has left
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Elizabeth Posted Aug 2, 2020 at 5:55 PM
Thank you Denise and Amy for teaching me to dance! Sincerely, Elizabeth Ann Mac Donald (daughter of Patricia and Vern Mac Donald)
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Ann MacGillivary posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
A beautiful written obituary for a wonderful lady. Doris certainly paved the way for dance in Cape Breton and beyond. She enriched and touched many, many lives through her dance classes. Allan and Doris were truly icons not only in the dance community, but the community as a whole. The words of Fred Astaire is how Doris and Allan lived their lives both on and off the dance floor "Do it big, do it right and do it with style." Doris rest in peace and have a dance with Allan.
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Kendra Coombes lit a candle
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
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A very accomplished lady and a mentor to many. Please accept my deepest condolences on your of Doris, her memory will live on through the many lives she touched.
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Ruth Dupe, RCL Branch 015 President posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
On behalf of the Allan MacDonald Memorial, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 015, New Waterford I would extend our deepest condolences to Doris’s family members. Doris was the Matriarch of our Branch and a Lifetime member who took great pride in her Legion and worked diligently over a very long time with her husband Allan and up until her death. May she rest in peace in her eternal home.
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Patricia MacLeod posted a condolence
Monday, July 27, 2020
Doris provided much joy to so many young girls.
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Joanne Connors MacDonald posted a condolence
Monday, July 27, 2020
This was the hardest working lady I’ve ever met. I will always imagine her gliding across Heaven with Allan! I thank God for giving me the chance to get to know her better, the past few years. Rest well, my old neighbour!
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Carol Posted Jul 28, 2020 at 12:09 AM
Having tea & watching the birds form our favorite sets in her living room of her home that she valued very much . Simple things made her happy , a phone call, a visit , going for a drive, and of course a Dairy Queen strawberry sundae. Until we meet again my sweet lady. Carol & David XOX
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The family of Doris Mae MacDonald, New Waterford uploaded a photo
Monday, July 27, 2020
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(902) 849-4505
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