Raymond Joseph "Onions" MacIsaac passed away suddenly on August 9th, 2026 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital after a short but hard fought battle with cancer.

Raymond was born on July 6th, 1949 in New Waterford to the late Isabel (Edwards) and Angus MacIsaac.

In his youth, Dad attended St Agnes school. He was active in school sports playing soccer and running track. He also enjoyed playing hockey on a frozen pond or with a ball in the street. In his teens he started working at the bowling alley where he could bowl for free. Anyone who knows Dad will know that "free" is the invitation to do it often. He learned to love bowling and those "free" strings turned into years spent at the bowling alley. There wasn't a bowler on the island who didn't know Dad. People enjoyed watching him play or wanted him on their team. He was fun, friendly and a joy to be around. He played on many teams over the years, but the Ashby Schooners is where he spent most of his bowling career; earning victories that brought Dad and the team all the way to the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

Dad eventually moved on from that bowling alley job. He Briefly worked as a mail carrier and then in 1972 became an installer with MT&T which most people now know as "Bell". Dad didn't think phones were going to be a big deal and instead pursued a career with DEVCO in the mine. He started working on the face with "the boys" in 1975 and soon jumped at the opportunity to learn something new becoming certified as an Industrial Electrician in 1980. Dad continued with DEVCO to the bitter end moving from Lingan to Phalen then to Victoria Junction to secure his pension. He couldn't sit idle for very long when he "retired" from DEVCO in 2000. He worked behind the counter at Needs gas bar, back shift at WalMart and on a retro fit of the Eric Raude oil rig until the West called for electricians and he started flying out there for 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. I dare say he would still be there if his health didn't make him stop!  

Dad worked hard for his money but he also worked hard for free. He showed me at a young age that volunteering to help seniors complete their income tax pays with experience. Dad worked Camp Day at Tim Hortons, helped with bingo events and even became a certified bartender to help his favorite organization - The Kinsmen. Dad donated to charities and the foodbank. It was important to take care of those in need.

Born the fourth child of eight, family was never in short supply. Dad married in 1971. Together, my parents travelled, attended parties and dances and raised a daughter who would learn to cherish all the parts of them that were in her. He only had one child but would become a father figure for many others through the years. He was the one who had answers to questions you hadn't yet asked, advice on the direction to take and sometimes the hard reality that you didn't want to face. Somehow that reality was a little easier to take coming from Dad. From a young boy to a man, husband, father and grandfather if a family function was scheduled, you could rely on him to be there!

After losing his first love, Dad was fortunate to find love a second time. Patti held Dad's hand through the later part of life. They travelled and continued to join those important family functions all while enjoying life together. Patti and Dad became an inseparable pair over the years and in recent months an incredible support to the family while Dad dealt with his cancer diagnosis.

Left to mourn are his daughter, Raylene (Drew);  grandchildren, Andrew and Erynn; brothers, John "Brother" (Frauke), Donnie, Ronnie; sisters, Marg Kearney, Kay (John) May and Sheila Halliday; fiancé, Patricia "Patti" MacIntyre along with many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Besides his parents, Dad was predeceased by his wife, Patricia "Patsy" (Hawley);  adopted brother, Greg MacNeil, brother Doug, brothers-in-law Greg Hawley, Steve Halliday and sister-in-law, Charlotte.

The family would like to extend thanks to the doctors and staff of the Cape Breton Cancer Center for the wonderful care provided to Dad.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 18 , 2026 from 11:30 a.m. until the time of the service at 1 p.m. all in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home Chapel, 380 Smith Street, New Waterford. Father Jim Oliver officiating. A reception will take place in the funeral home with burial to follow in Mount Carmel cemetery. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca. The funeral will be live-streamed and may be viewed by visiting: http://www.facebook.com/vjmcgillivray? 

Donations in his memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Cancer Patient Care Fund at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney.