Obituary of Victor Joseph AuCoin, New Waterford

We regret to announce that our dad, Victor Joseph AuCoin, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 7, 2021 at Harbourstone Enhanced Care facility at the age of 85. He was born in New Waterford to the late Victor Sr. and Katie (Fraser) AuCoin on Aug. 27, 1935. He married his wife, our mom, on August 14, 1961 and they raised five children together until her untimely death, September 12, 1987. Our dad was a very ambitious man. He was involved in an MVA when he was 18 years old that left him with a leg amputation. This did not discourage him and he did not sit around feeling sorry for himself. He always tinkered with something. It started with motors and grew into his love of electricity. When he was 20 years old, he started working in #12 Colliery for a very brief time and from there he went to work at Stan Wadden's Auto Electric where he worked on motors. He learned about the electrical trade from his life-long friend and mentor, Raymond 'Heck' MacNeil, from the age of 18. From there, he educated himself to become an electrician and passed that knowledge and passion on to both his sons, and one time business partners, Paul and Blair. He started teaching the electrical program at the College of Cape Breton in the early 1970's until the program was dissolved many years later. He was very determined to be successful and that he was. Together with his wife, Mary, and their two sons, they had a dream and started a small business in the basement office of their home in 1979. That business grew into what is known today as Vic AuCoin's Electric Ltd. He had many other business accomplishments and successes as well. He gave to many charities over the years but they are too numerous to mention. Our dad had two sides, the business man and the family man. Not a lot of people were fortunate enough to see the fun loving, laugh from your belly, chicken wing makin' grandpa that he was. His passion was the water. He loved Ben Eoin, the Bras D'or Lakes, his boat and a good fiddle tune. He enjoyed going to the bungalow in Inverness where many wonderful family memories were made. In his later years, he enjoyed spending time at his trailer in the Three Seasons Mobile Home Park in Brooksville, Florida. Victor is survived by sons, Paul (Janice), Blair (Linda); daughters, Darlene, Brenda, Kimberley (Norman); son-in-law, Bobby MacKinnon (Bertha); 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and his only sister, Brenda (Anslem) MacPherson. He is also survived by several cousins, nieces, nephews, special friends, sisters-in-law, Georgina Musgrave, Rita (Dominic) Picano and Diane MacDougall. He is survived by his loving wife, Betty (Wall) AuCoin and her children, Rick, Jamie (Mary) and Gerri (Sam); father-in-law, Pat (Joan) Wall and family. Also by two special caregivers, Blair Caume and Ronnie Lindon. He is predeceased by his beautiful wife, Mary MacDougall; parents, Victor and Katie AuCoin; in-laws, George and Isabel MacDougall and Geri Wall ; sisters-in-law, Kay Gouthro and Mary MacDougall and brothers-in-law, Clarence Musgrave, Dan Joe Gouthro, Mose MacDougall and John MacDougall. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 11 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith Street, New Waterford. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, masks and social distancing are required. A private Funeral Mass of celebration will take place in the Parish Church of St. Leonard, New Waterford, with Father Peter McLeod officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cancer Patient Care Fund at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca. In the words of our dad as only he could say it, "Bye for now". We will love and miss you forever dad but we take great comfort in knowing that you are reunited with mom. We promise to love one another for both of your sakes.