Obituary of John Duncan 'Mac' MacLellan, New Waterford

The family regrets to announce the death of John MacLellan, age 80, of New Waterford. He died peacefully at the New Waterford Hospital on March 28, 2023, after a brief illness.

John was born in New Waterford on September 5, 1942, the eldest son of the late Joe and Mary (MacIntyre) MacLellan. He attended Saint Agnes School and Central High, graduating in 1960. He completed studies at Nova Scotia Teacher’s College in 1964. He taught Chemistry and Geometry at St. Agnes High, then Science at BEC before ending his career as school librarian in 1994.

He was a lifelong member of Saint Agnes Parish until it closed, and then Holy Redeemer Parish in Whitney Pier.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his loving wife of 50 years, Marie Desveaux (2022), his son Adrian (2015), infant daughter Johnna Marie (1996), and sisters Hughena (2005) and Agnes in February, 2023. He was also predeceased by his grandparents, Hughie Malcolm and Tena MacIntyre and Roderick and Christene MacLellan, as well as his in-laws Albert and Georgette Desveaux, Roland (Dorothy) Deveau, and Leo (Laura Cecilia Reid) Desveaux.

He is survived by his daughter Stacey and her children, Rikki and Ella MacMullin, Ottawa and son Matthew, Vancouver. Also mourning his passing are his sister Babes (Willie) Buchanan and brothers Roddie and JJ, all of New Waterford as well as his in-laws, Rose (John) Hutchinson of New Waterford, Bertha (Kevin) Williamson of Gillis’ Lake, George (Anne Marie) of Coxheath, Arthur (Josie), Phillip (the late Dawn) and Frank (Nancy), all of Ontario. He is also survived by his dear aunts, Mockey MacIntyre and Flora Beaton as well as many nephews and nieces.

John loved many sports and in his younger years he refereed high school basketball and soccer.

But his great passion in life was darts. He and Lenny LeBlanc started a small dart league (4 teams) that quickly became 12 teams in the late 70's. The league lasted almost 50 years. He also started the Cape Breton Open Dart Tournament and was Regional Director for Cape Breton for the National Darts Federation of Canada from 1978 until 2011. He won the Maritime Open Championship in 1976 and captained the local Army and Navy team to 4 provincial championships and 2 silver medals at the Nationals. Mac and Chipper MacKinnon won the National Doubles Championship in 1989 and came second in 1988. In 1984, Mac and his wife Marie won the Nova Scotia Mixed Championship. For his contribution to darts he was made Honorary Chairman of Darts Nova Scotia and was inducted into the New Waterford and District Sports Heritage Hall of Fame in 2019.

We wish to thank the doctors and nurses who cared for John during his recent illness, especially the Medical Floor in New Waterford and Palliative Care.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith Street, New Waterford. A Funeral Mass of celebration will take place on Wednesday, April 5 at 11 a.m. in Holy Redeemer Church, Whitney Pier, with Father Paul Murphy officiating. Burial will be in St. Agnes Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the K.O.C., New Waterford. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca. Donations to Palliative Care or a charity of choice would be appreciated.