Obituary of Marie Rita (Bourgeois) McEachern, New Waterford

Rita McEachern of New Waterford, who was born on March 4, 1927 to Captain Fulgence and Olive (Aucoin) Bourgeois in Cheticamp, NS, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2024 in Halifax NS.

She is predeceased by her husband Bobby and is survived by children, Ann (Don) Lajoie, Gerald (Anne Marie), Patrick (Nancy) and Lawrence, and sister Victorine Aucoin, sister-in-law Laurette Bourgeois plus many nieces and nephews.

Rita also leaves behind six grandchildren, Amy (Carl) Snyder, Abby (Mike) Gauthier, Jennifer (Nick) Wakeham, David, Shelby and Ruby (Kasha) McEachern, and nine great grandchildren, Chloe, Jacob and Sam Snyder, Sophie and Liam Wakeham, Adam and Addison Gauthier, Micah and Madeleine McEachern.

She is predeceased by brothers, Captain Joseph Bourgeois (Margaret), Thomas Charles (Germaine), Louis Philip (Annie May), Edmond (Yvonne), Gerard (Marion), Paul Albert, Willie (Rita) and infant sisters, Lorraine and Marie Lorraine. 

Rita was a pillar of her church and her involvement in the Catholic Women’s League for the past 60 years was but one sign of her dedication. She was so dedicated to her Parish that they named the kitchen at the parish hall, “Rita’s Kitchen”. She will be missed but her Acadian meat pie recipe will live on.

The family want to thank her many New Waterford neighbors and friends who supported her until her move to Halifax, along with all the healthcare workers who attended to Rita in New Waterford and Halifax.

We also want to thank the amazing staff at the Berkeley on Pepperell Street. Each and everyone of you went above and beyond the call of duty. The residents welcomed her with open arms and made her feel at home with welcome cards, flowers and well wishes. They not only supported mom, but also her children, who looked after her. We will be forever grateful.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith Street, New Waterford on Saturday, September 7^th from 10 am until the time of the service at 12 (noon) followed by a luncheon. Fr. Godwin Obike presiding.

Interment in Saint Agnes Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one's choice. On line condolences to the family can be expressed at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca