Obituary of Marie Alice MacLellan

Please note: Due to an unplanned power outage at the cathedral as well as in several areas of the province, the livestream of the funeral mass for Marie MacLellan was unfortunately unable to occur. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. 
 

It is with great relief and great sadness that we announce the death of Marie Alice MacLellan (Purcell) on the afternoon of March 4, 2024 at her nursing home in Dartmouth. She was 94 years old and had been residing at Glasgow Hall for the last six years while living with increasingly severe dementia.

Marie was born on December 12, 1929 in Pleasant Valley near Antigonish NS, the eldest daughter of Anna and Joseph Purcell. She was predeceased by her husband Donald Charles (D.C.) MacLellan, her brother Edmund and her sister Donna (Proctor). She is survived by her sister Agnes (MacDougall), her daughter Anne (Andrew) MacLellan, and her son Charles (Alisa) MacLellan.

Marie lived in Antigonish most of her life, where she began teaching primary school immediately after finishing high school and normal college. She always enjoyed studying and while still teaching, finished the requirements for a B.A. in History and a B.Ed. at St. Francis Xavier University. Starting in 1983, she spent two years at the Toronto School of Theology where she earned a master’s degree in religious education. She retired from school teaching to become the director of religious education for the parish of Antigonish. Marie was enthusiastically involved in the activities of the parish. She retired in Antigonish but spent the last eight years of her life in Dartmouth near her daughter, Anne.

Visitation for Marie will be held from 2 to 4 PM on Friday March 8, 2024 in MacIsaac Funeral Home in Antigonish. The funeral will be held in St. Ninian Cathedral at 11 AM on Saturday March 9, 2024 with a reception to follow at St. Ninian Place.

Marie’s family would like to express sincere thanks and gratitude to all the staff at Glasgow Hall Nursing Home for the loving care that they provided to her for the last six years.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to a charity of your choice.