Obituary of Margaret Ann (Anna Brown) Baldwin, New Waterford

It is with great sadness the family of Margaret Ann (Anna Brown) Baldwin, announce her sudden passing on Sept 1, 2023 at Cape Breton Regional Hospital with her loving children by her side.

Anna was the daughter of the late Margaret (MacDonald) Brown and Urban Brown of New Waterford.  

When mom was in school at Saint Agnes she played basketball and was known as one of the best little players on the court; she could almost be at both ends of the court at the same time. Her team won a Cape Breton Title one year.  

Mom had a great love for animals and all of God's creatures. She would feed any stray cat that landed on her doorstep and owned many cats and dogs throughout her life.  Even the birds waited to be fed by her every morning. Her heart was so big, she always said that she wished she could save them all.

Mom was a hard worker her whole life. After she finished school, she worked at retail stores in New Waterford.After many years, she took a job at the Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board (Saint Agnes School) where she worked as a grounds supervisor.  She cherished this job and the children loved her to this day. She made many friends at Saint Agnes school and would often bake delicious treats for the staff who loved her baking.  

After her retirement, mom spent many days baking for friends and family. She was well known for her beautiful baking, taking care of her beautiful yard and spending time with her loving daughter, Leanne. 

Leanne and Anna were best friends and had a bond like no other. They were truly connected at the heart and they were always there for each other in good times and in bad. They were not just mother and daughter, they were soul sisters.  

Back in 2003, mom was thrilled to become a grandmother for the first time as her sweet granddaughter, Olivia, was welcomed into the world. Even though they lived far apart, they stayed connected and mom loved her with her whole heart.  Mom was very proud of her accomplishments.  

Back in 2008, mom became a grandmother for the second time; her sweet little grandson, Liam was born. Liam had the advantage of living on the same street as his nan, therefore she took on the role as his babysitter, then eventually one of her best friends. They never went a day without talking and they spent lots of time together having fun, telling jokes and laughing.  

Mom spent many summers at one her favourite place in the world, Sangaree Island. She looked forward to going there like a child at Christmas.  As summer would get closer each year, mom would get more excited.  She loved the warm summer evenings with her close friends, the Mira River sunsets, the bonfires, the sing songs,and the endless laughs; she loved everything about being there.  

Mom also enjoyed playing darts. She joined the Curran Court Dart league where she played darts there for many years and eventually started playing darts at the Legion in New Waterford. She met many new friends there.  

One of moms absolute favourite things to do was to go on a shopping trip to Value Village with her buddy, Carol Ann Macintyre. She could spend hours in that store browsing and enjoying ever second of it.

Mom also enjoyed her morning phone chats with her sister-in-law, Mona, who was a great friend to my mom throughout the years. 

Mom was a woman of strong faith. She battled serious health issues through the years and was always assured that Jesus would get her through and he always did. She was an active member St. Leonards Parish where she attended mass regularly. When she wasn’t at mass, she was watching it on TV. Mom was also a member of the CWL for years, where she loved spending time with the ladies. 

She leaves behind to mourn her three children whom she dearly loved more than anything in this world, Bob Baldwin, Toronto, ON, Leanne (Robbie) Campbell, New Victoria, and Urban at home; her brother, Billy (Mona) Brown, New Waterford; her two grandchildren, Liam and Olivia and her many nieces and nephew.  

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by a sister, Alena, in infancy.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Leonards Parish or the S.P.C.A.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 6-9 p.m. in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith Street, New Waterford. A Funeral Mass of celebration will take place on Wednesday, Sept.13 at 10 a.m. in the Parish Church of St. Leonard, Mount Carmel Ave., with Father Godwin Obike officiating. Burial will be in St. Agnes Cemetery with a reception to follow at the K.O.C., New Waterford. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca. 

A big thanks to all of you who held a place in my moms heart, to all of you who were there to help her in any way through the years.Your kindness is greatly appreciated.  

“Grief is loves souvenir. It’s the receipt we wave that says to the world: Look! Love was once mine. I loved well. Here is my proof ,I paid the price."