Obituary for John D. MacNeil
MacNeil John Donald – age 73, of South Ohio, Yarmouth Co., N.S. passed away on May 13, 2022 with his family by his side. He was born in Yarmouth on September 14, 1948 and was a son to the late Donald and Edith (Moulaison) MacNeil.
John was a very proud South Ender! He was better known by his friends as Cornmeal.
John never forgot his roots. He had compassion for the less fortunate and was always there to lend a hand, either through his mentoring skills or his ability to find ways to assist others in time of need. He always encouraged people around him to strive for a good life through hard work and always giving back to one’s community.
John was one of the original members of ‘Club 19’, a group of youth formed in the 1960s by the Notre Dame Church in South End. He spent countless hours at the Notre Dame youth center playing sports as he was growing up. He later became a member of the Air Cadets.
John attended both Saint Ambrose School and Yarmouth High School for his formal education. After high school, he decided to go into the teaching profession where he majored in Phys. Ed. at Nova Scotia Teachers College. He returned to Yarmouth where he landed a teaching job at YCMHS. He remained there for 18 years and then took on a job at Yarmouth Junior High where he taught the PDR program. After 40+ years he finally said goodbye to the teaching profession.
John loved to camp, fish, and play a variety of sports. In his later years, he returned to camping so he could spend more of his time with his family members and friends, especially his grandchildren. John was very proud of his two children and their accomplishments in life. He often said his greatest gift in life was that of his loving wife with whom they shared 53 years of their life together.
He is survived by his loving wife Ruth “Arlene” MacNeil; children, Heather MacNeil (Steve Newell); Corey (Crystal) MacNeil; grandchildren, Lauren and Katelyn Berryman; loving sister, Cathy (Ray) Green; 2 nieces Kim Rodenhiser (Kory) and Tara Boland (Eoghan); brothers, Garth, Jackie, and Paul Nickerson; sisters, Beverlie Fahie, Betty and Pam Nickerson. Besides his parents, John was predeceased by his brothers, Paul and Sherwood. As per John’s wishes cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Donations in his memory may be made to the Juniper House of Yarmouth at http://www.juniperhouse.ca/
Online condolences may be sent to: sweenys@sweenysfuneralhome.net, or you may sign the guestbook online at: www.sweenysfuneralhome.net.
John was a very proud South Ender! He was better known by his friends as Cornmeal.
John never forgot his roots. He had compassion for the less fortunate and was always there to lend a hand, either through his mentoring skills or his ability to find ways to assist others in time of need. He always encouraged people around him to strive for a good life through hard work and always giving back to one’s community.
John was one of the original members of ‘Club 19’, a group of youth formed in the 1960s by the Notre Dame Church in South End. He spent countless hours at the Notre Dame youth center playing sports as he was growing up. He later became a member of the Air Cadets.
John attended both Saint Ambrose School and Yarmouth High School for his formal education. After high school, he decided to go into the teaching profession where he majored in Phys. Ed. at Nova Scotia Teachers College. He returned to Yarmouth where he landed a teaching job at YCMHS. He remained there for 18 years and then took on a job at Yarmouth Junior High where he taught the PDR program. After 40+ years he finally said goodbye to the teaching profession.
John loved to camp, fish, and play a variety of sports. In his later years, he returned to camping so he could spend more of his time with his family members and friends, especially his grandchildren. John was very proud of his two children and their accomplishments in life. He often said his greatest gift in life was that of his loving wife with whom they shared 53 years of their life together.
He is survived by his loving wife Ruth “Arlene” MacNeil; children, Heather MacNeil (Steve Newell); Corey (Crystal) MacNeil; grandchildren, Lauren and Katelyn Berryman; loving sister, Cathy (Ray) Green; 2 nieces Kim Rodenhiser (Kory) and Tara Boland (Eoghan); brothers, Garth, Jackie, and Paul Nickerson; sisters, Beverlie Fahie, Betty and Pam Nickerson. Besides his parents, John was predeceased by his brothers, Paul and Sherwood. As per John’s wishes cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Donations in his memory may be made to the Juniper House of Yarmouth at http://www.juniperhouse.ca/
Online condolences may be sent to: sweenys@sweenysfuneralhome.net, or you may sign the guestbook online at: www.sweenysfuneralhome.net.