Lovingly remembered and forever in our hearts, we announce the passing of Anna Margaret MacDonald (“Peggy”) R.N., age 80 of Glace Bay on Saturday, May 2, 2026. She passed away peacefully in the Palliative Care Unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Glace Bay on February 12, 1946, Peggy was the daughter of the late William Renee and Margaret Catherine (McNeil) MacDonald of Bridgeport.

Peggy cherished time spent with her children and grandchildren, who were her pride and joy. A devout Catholic, she was a faithful member of St. Anne’s Parish, Chalice, and Cursillo. She graduated from St Michael Senior High in 1964, the nursing program at St. Joseph’s Hospital in July 1969 and remained an active member of its alumni. Peggy dedicated her career to nursing, working in the maternity wards of both the Glace Bay Community Hospital and the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, where she touched the lives of many families.

She will be sadly missed by her husband of 59 years, Charles J. MacDonald; her loving children, Francis (AnnMarie) of Fredericton, Kimberly Butts of Glace Bay, Chris (Melanie) of Sydney, and Margo (Scott) MacDonald of Halifax; her siblings, Sandra(Donnie), Billy (Cathy), Barry, Hughie, and Barbara (Laurie); her daughter-in-law, Denise MacDonald; her cherished grandchildren, Carol, Devon (Crystal), Liam, Sarah (Kirkland), Dylan (Nick), Cameron, Deanna (Nathan), Connell, Emily, Ainslee, Hayden, and Kyle; her great-grandchild, William; and numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.

Besides her parents, Peggy was predeceased by her beloved son, Pat; her grandchild in infancy, Garrik; and her sister, Lorraine Fanson.    

There were a fortunate few who experienced “Cruise Peggy,” as she embraced adventure on cruises and enjoyed a lighter, more carefree side of life. Peggy had a way of finding beauty in the quieter corners of life—lingering over afternoon high tea, sinking into the warmth of a hot tub, and sharing laughter with those around her. What truly made these experiences special was the company she kept. Whether she was traveling to new places or watching the horizon drift by on a cruise, she embraced each moment with calm curiosity and grace.

Visitation will be held at the V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith Street, New Waterford, on Wednesday, 6 May from 6-8 pm. A Funeral Mass, officiated by Fr. Macleen Anyanwu will be celebrated on Thursday, 7 May at 11 am at St. Anne’s Church, Glace Bay. A reception will follow in the church foyer. Interment will take place at a later date.

The family would like to send a special thank you to the nurses at 3A - C.B.R.H., Palliative Care, Arlene Billard, N.P., staff at the cancer unit and for all those who gave Peggy compassion and care.

Family flowers only. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations in Peggy’s memory may be made to Teal to Heal, the Cancer Patient Care Fund, or Palliative Care Cape Breton. Online condolences to the MacDonald family may be expressed at www.vjmcgillivray.ca.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.