Obituary of Hugh Joseph MacDonald

MacDonald; ,Hugh Joseph, formerly of Heritage Drive, Antigonish, passed away peacefully, Saturday, April 26, 2014 in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, surrounded by his family. Hugh Joseph was born on April 11, 1917 in Springfield, Antigonish Co. He was the eldest son of the late David and Mary Elizabeth (Chisholm) Mac Donald. As a youth he worked on the family farm, went to the one room schoolhouse and worked in the lumber woods in Upper Springfield. In 1937 he ventured to the gold mines in Northern Ontario. In 1941 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, trained as a wireless operator in Brandon, Calgary and Fingal. Finally in Debert he has promoted to Sergeant and assigned to his crew which included two men from England and one from Montreal. In April 1943 they were ready for active duty and flew from England to Gibralter to Karachi, India. He saw most of his active service in India and Burma. In 1944, he was promoted to Pilot Officer and completed the operation tour. All of his flights are superbly documented in his flight log from those days. He was decorated with the Burma Star as well the George VI Defense Medal. Hugh was very proud to have served his country and we, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are very thankful for what he did to preserve our freedom. In August, 1945 he returned to Springfield. In 1946 he married his long time sweetheart, Mary Fraser (who was then working in New York City) and settled in Antigonish. He worked at St. F.X. and Keltic Motors where he advanced through the ranks to become manager of the company. He founded Strait Motor Sales in Port Hawkesbury in 1964 where he worked until his retirement in 1976. Hugh was also very active in his community including: Antigonish Golf Club, Antigonish Town Councillor, Board Member of St. Martha’s Hospital, Board Member of the Bergengren Credit Union, Arras Branch Royal Canadian Legion and Lions Club. Upon his retirement, Hugh took on a special mission. As Chairman of CAMR (the forerunner of CACL), he was instrumental in raising funds to build a CACL Community Workshop. To quote Brian O’Connell, "Hugh Joseph MacDonald, an energetic, enthusiastic, retiree who made this chore a night and day activity." Hugh is survived by his children, Jack (Mary), Antigonish, Betty (Norman) Cameron, West River, and Doreen (Paul) Belliveau, Calgary. His grandchildren: David, Cathy and Robert (Mary) MacDonald, Michael (Elaine) Cameron, Tanya (Brian) MacDonald, Sarah (Brent) and Jeffery Belliveau. His great-grandchildren: Ruby, Malcolm and Angus Cameron, Ginger, Sheamus and Brae MacDonald. He is also survived by brothers Colin W., John D. (Isabel), Gerald (Betty) and sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen and Betty. He was predeceased by his wife Mary (July 26, 2011), granddaughter, Gina MacDonald, brothers, Andrew "Bud", Rod, David, Jamie and sister, Margaret (Girlie) Grant. Visitation 2-4 and 7-9 today, Monday in MacIsaac Funeral Home, 61 Pleasant St. Funeral mass Tuesday, 10:00 am, St. Andrew’s Church, St. Andrews, Rev. Charles Cameron and Rev. Hughie D. MacDonald presiding. Burial in the South River Cemetery. Memorial donations to St. Martha’s Hospital Foundation or CACL, Antigonish. The family wishes to extend our sincere appreciation for the wonderful care Hugh received at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital. We wish to acknowledge the special attention given by the nurses, doctors, physio and occupational therapists, housekeeping staff, dietary department and clergy. All have had a profound impact on our fathers stay in the Veteran Unit at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital.