Obituary of Martina Hatchette

Mary Martina (MacDonald) Hatchette passed away peacefully in the R. K. MacDonald Nursing Home, Antigonish, NS, on Saturday, December 30, 2023. Born in Mulgrave, NS, on January 30, 1925, Martina was the oldest of nine children raised in the household of James Leo “Jimmy” and Mary Eliza Blanche (Power) MacDonald.

Martina spent her formative years in Mulgrave. Blessed with the gift of a beautiful voice, she participated in many community musical events. She was also a devoted Toronto Maple Leafs fan, quietly sitting on the stairs of her family home during her childhood years listening to radio broadcasts, despite her father’s admonition that “hockey was for boys.”

During the war years, Martina worked at the Sweet Shoppe, a local café. At that time, Mulgrave was abuzz with military activity. Among the soldiers she met at the Shoppe was Gerald Francis “Gerry” Hatchette, a young artillery officer from Halifax who later departed for overseas service as part of the CanLoan program.

Through hard work and frugality, Martina saved the funds required to attend St. Martha’s School of Nursing. She graduated in 1947 and returned to Mulgrave, where she assisted the local doctor with deliveries. By coincidence one day, Martina met Gerry on the local post office steps and a courtship ensued. The couple married in St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, Mulgrave, on May 22, 1948, and established residence in Antigonish, where they raised a family of nine children.

Martina remained at home throughout her married life, caring for her growing family while Gerry covered an extensive part of eastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton as Weights and Measures inspector. She was an active member of St. Ninians Catholic Women’s League, doing volunteer work at the “Opportunity Shop” and sacristan duties at the Cathedral for many years. Martina was also artistic, developing impressive oil painting talents under the guidance of local artist Mary MacGillivray. 

Martina is survived by her nine children—Paula Lowe (Al), Antigonish; Gwen Grant, Brierly Brook; Ann MacDonald (Bruce), Antigonish; Jane MacInnis (Donald), Ironville; James “Jamie” (Ruth), Ottawa; Gerard (Sue), London; Maria Neary (Jerome), Georgeville; Elizabeth Langille (John), Melrose; and David (Denise), Dartmouth; 23 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren; her brother Ralph Sylvester “Vesty” MacDonald (Roberta), Thorburn; and her sister-in-law Dorothy (Hatchette) West, Rockingham. Besides her parents, Martina was predeceased by her husband Gerry; brothers Basil Joseph “Bud”, Neil Charles, James Bertram “Bert,” and Bernard Patrick “Bernie;” sisters Nora Patricia “Pat,” Margaret Corinne, and Imelda Catherine “Mem;” sons-in-law Alex Grant and Gerry Briggs; and great-grandson Oliver Smith.

The family extends a special thank you to Dr. Steven Gallant for the excellent medical care and support he provided to Martina throughout her later years. Thanks as well to the staff of the R. K. MacDonald Nursing Home—especially Ariel—for their attentive care during Martina’s time as a resident. A special thank you to Marilyn for the compassionate care and companionship she provided to Martina over the past several years.

Visitation from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 7:00 to 9:00 pm Thursday, January 4, 2024, in MacIsaac Funeral Home, 61 Pleasant St., Antigonish. Funeral Mass at 11:00 am Friday, January 5, 2024 in St. Ninian Cathedral, Rev. Danny MacLennan presiding. Burial in St. Ninian Parish Cemetery at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Ninian Parish, Antigonish; the Antigonish Community Food Bank, 166 College St., Antigonish, or a food bank of your choice.