Obituary of Sarah Elizabeth O'Neil-DeCoste

O’NEIL – DeCoste, Sarah Elizabeth ‘Betty’ (O’Donnell), passed away in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish on Wednesday, April 5^th, 2023 at the age of 97.  Born October 5^th, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Phillip Joseph and Mary Catherine (MacDonald) O’Donnell.  She is survived by her children, Sean (Debbie), Gerald (Cecelia), Raymond (Carol), Lawrence (Denise), Moira (Clarey), Cormack, Bernard (Sun Ae), Francis (Patricia), Dennis (Veronica), Adrian (Jacquie); sister, Phyllis O'Donnell CSM, along with numerous grand and great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and her DeCoste family.  Besides her parents, Betty was predeceased by her husbands, Ignatius “Nash” O’Neil and Bernard DeCoste; children, Michael Allan in infancy, Phillip (Noel), Catherine (Neil) and Anthony (Heather) and siblings, Patsy (Frank), Raymond, Florence, and Jim.

Born in Sydney, raised in Jamesville West, Cape Breton, Betty attended schools in Ottawa Brook and Iona before joining the Canadian National Railway as a Dispatcher.  It is as a Dispatcher in Mulgrave, that Betty met her husband Nash, the two wed in 1946 and raised their fourteen children in Mulgrave before Nash's passing in 1980. In 1991, Betty married Bernie and together they spent their years enjoying each other and the many summer concerts that Cape Breton offered. 

A woman of strong faith, Betty lived a life of grace in the service of others. She exemplified the qualities of hard work, quiet determination and unconditional love. She humbly accepted life’s blessings and persevered through the difficult times in her life including the loss of her husbands and loving children. A quick-witted woman, Betty loved nothing more than visits with her family and enjoying an innocent chuckle. Many days were spent on the sun porch enjoying her large family, and her surroundings. Betty was extremely proud of her family, her home, her beautiful flowers and the vegetable garden that was planted each year with love by family members. A wonderful cook, you would never go without a meal with Betty, regardless of how many children were in the house. 

Betty enters heaven, leaving a large family who will miss her dearly. 

Viewing will be Thursday, April 13^th, 2023 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. in the Mulgrave and Area Resting Place. Funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 14^th in St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, Mulgrave with Father Alan MacPhie officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mulgrave and Area Resting Place or the Palliative Care Unit at St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com