Obituary of Marilyn Gordon 'Mimi' MacLeod

Marilyn (Mimi) MacLeod (1939-2024), Whycocomagh, NS With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Marilyn (Mimi) MacLeod of Whycocomagh, NS at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital after a brief illness. Marilyn’s life was one of service as a physiotherapist, a public healthcare administrator and as an important contributor and leader in her church and her community of Whycocomagh. Although work would take her to other parts of Canada in her career, her heart and energy was always strongly connected to Whycocomagh and Inverness County in Cape Breton.

Marilyn was born in Whycocomagh on October 27, 1939, the 3rd of 4 sisters. Her father, the late Dr. Murdoch Gordon MacLeod, passed away suddenly in 1947 and she was raised by her mother Ima MacLeod along with her 3 sisters. She attended elementary school in Whycocomagh, then after one year in high school in Baddeck, she was accepted in the physiotherapy program of McGill University in Montreal. She spent the next 4 years in Montreal earning her Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy.

While it is difficult to understand today, there was a time when healthcare jobs were not so plentiful in Nova Scotia. She spent the first decade of her career working in various locations across Canada. Eventually, Nova Scotia pulled her back and she took the major step of returning to school to earn a Masters degree in Public Administration from Dalhousie University. After this, she was fortunate to be offered a position at the Department of Public Health, based in Sydney, Nova Scotia, so she could spend weekends at the family home in Whycocomagh.

When she retired and returned full time to Whycocomagh, Marilyn directed her energy and organizational experience in support of the community. She was a long-time member of the Development Commission, serving in several positions, and most recently contributing to the
development of the new signage created for the village. At St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, she served on the Board of Management for over 20 years, including 18 years as Board Chair. Under her leadership and guidance many major maintenance and renovation projects were completed. She was also a key member of the Ways and Means Committee for many years planning and ensuring the success of many fundraising projects.

Marilyn also found time to develop creative interests. She was an avid gardener, and not straying far from her practical side, she favoured vegetables. She grew a wide range, adapting to a raised garden when a leg injury temporarily made working her garden plot difficult, and always sharing the fresh and tasty results. Quilting was both a creative and social outlet as she joined local quilters in Blue’s Mills and created beautiful and very practical gifts for many of her family.

Invisible to most, Marilyn faced several very serious health challenges throughout her life. She took on each with incredible resilience, actively engaging her doctors with her deep knowledge of the condition, its symptoms and treatment. These challenges may have slowed her for a short period, but she always kept pushing forward, not letting them stop her.

Marilyn could always be counted upon for a passionate debate, particularly about politics and her chosen political party, or in support of Whycocomagh, Inverness County, Scottish culture in Cape Breton, and Canada, probably in that order. She was well read and one could not enter into a debate with her unless appropriately prepared. Her opinions, passion, resilience and drive to get things done will be sorely missed.

Marilyn is survived by her sisters, Ella (Ily) Connell, (Perth, Ontario), Patricia MacRitchie, (Whycocomagh) and Frances MacLeod (Whycocomagh), and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Cremation has already taken place. Visitation will be held in Dennis Haverstock Funeral Chapel in Whycocomagh on Monday, April 29th between 2 and 4pm and between 6 and 8 pm. A funeral service will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Whycocomagh at 11am on Tuesday, April 30th, 2024. This will be followed by interment for immediate family at Stewartdale Cemetery.

Many thanks to the tireless efforts of the care team at the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital with their assistance and care for Marilyn over the years. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marilyn’s name can be made to the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital Charitable Foundation or St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Whycocomagh.