Obituary of (Evelyn) Joan Cameron, New Waterford

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of (Evelyn) Joan Cameron, nee MacLennan, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital on Tuesday, September 19th, surrounded by her loving family. Joan was born in 1936 in Inverness but moved to New Victoria with her family when she was just a young girl.

Joan will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her devoted husband of 35 years, Wally; daughter, Lynn MacEachern (Frank Keating), Lower Sackville; son, Ward Bond, Halifax;  grandson, Scott MacEachern, Lower Sackville; sister, Dollena Hill, Lower Sackville; brothers,​​​ Alexander (Tobby), Ontario; and John R., Sydney, along with the rest of her extended family and many friends, including special friends, Karen, Theresa, and her sister-in-law, Diane.

Joan was predeceased by her parents, Alex Dan and Jesse MacLennan of Inverness; sisters Deanie Clements and Betty Kearney; brothers, Clem, Manion, and Chisholm.

When Joan was only 19, she married Stan Bond, and three years later, they owned and operated Stan’s Dairy on Argyle St., Sydney. Joan was the face of the business, and her warm, welcoming personality made the dairy more than a local convenience store. Kids from the Shipyard would meet there after school; adults in the neighbourhood would trade stories there, and Joan was the queen of storytelling. She held everyone captive with her attention to detail and her comedic delivery. One of the things that made Stan’s Dairy a little extra special, though, was the fact that Joan never let a child go without a treat, whether they had money to pay for it or not. In addition, families in the neighbourhood knew that Joan would never let them go without anything they needed. She treated people with kindness, and she said she never worried about them paying her back, but they always did.

When the store was sold thirteen years later, Joan became a stay-at-home mom to Lynn and Ward and to all of their friends. She was a dedicated mother to her children, and a caring daughter to her mother, Jesse, whom she spent most of her time with. Joan could put the tea on and whip up a batch of biscuits in a minute’s notice and was known to distribute her baked goods to her neighbours on Kent St. Once her children were grown, Joan put her baking skills to work at the IGA store in Sydney. She remained in the bakery for a few years until she entered the field of healthcare, which really was Joan’s calling. She earned her Personal Care Worker designation and began working at Maple Hill Manor, New Waterford. At the manor, Joan’s kind heart, dedication to her patients, and her warm smile were gifts to the people she cared for. 

Although dedicated to her work, Joan did find time to attend an occasional social event. It was during a square dance in Mabou in 1985 that Joan met Wally, her second husband, and three years later, they decided to get married and their “dance” continued. If Joan and Wally couldn’t get to a dance, they arranged their own at home on Saturday nights while looking out at the beautiful Bras d’or Lakes and listening to Celtic and Country music— a match made in Heaven.

Not long after Joan and Wally married, they moved to Boisdale, where Joan continued in the caring profession doing in-home personal care, until she retired at the age of 73. Joan’s retirement gave them more time to be on the go, and they traveled to every nook and cranny across Cape Breton during their road trips; they were even known to kidnap you and take you along for the ride. Joan especially loved the road trips that took her back to Inverness to visit family and friends; she was proud of her Inverness heritage.

Anyone who was lucky enough to call Joan a friend knows that she lived her life following her own advice- “No matter what you do, just always be yourself.” That was one of the best parts of who Joan was– “being herself” meant she was kind, funny, quick-witted, honest, loyal, and caring.

When she was at home, you could often find her in the kitchen baking, and if you timed it just right, there was a good chance Joan would be taking her highly sought after homemade biscuits, or sugar cookies, out of the oven, or a delicious home cooked meal with all the trimmings. The sweet smell filled the whole house. Her grand-nephew Nicholas, who frequently visited, was happy to be her taste tester and culinary student in hopes of carrying on Joan’s secret gravy recipe. Joan always looked forward to spending time with Nick.

Joan’s presence in our lives was a blessing. She had a mothering spirit that reached well beyond her own children, as she opened her arms to anyone who needed comfort and care. She had a smile that warmed your heart, and she gave the biggest hugs, in hopes of extending a visit, even if it was just a few moments longer.

We invite our friends and family to help us say goodbye, as we celebrate Joan’s life on Friday, September 29th, at V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home on 380 Smith St. in New Waterford. Visitation will take place from 7 - 9 p.m. Funeral service will also take place at V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, September 30th, at 1 p.m. with Father Jim Oliver officiating. Cremation has taken place.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan’s memory can be made to Cape Breton Community Housing Association, which provides a safe, supportive environment for people with mental illness during their recovery process (online at cbcha.ca/), or a charity of choice.

After the service, the family will go to the gravesite at St. Joseph's cemetery in New Victoria for a private service before returning to the Army, Navy, Airforce, Unit 217, 495 Smith St., New Waterford for a little afternoon Ceilidh. We hope you can join us. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca.