Maria "Mia" (Cox) MacDonald

Maria MacDonald
January 17, 1942- May 13, 2024
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Maria Dorothea Gertruda (Mia)
MacDonald (nee Cox) beloved wife, mother and sister. A longtime resident of Leitches Creek,
Mia passed away on Monday, May 13th, 2024 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, at the age
of 82.
Mia was born in Meijel, Limburg, Netherlands on January 17, 1942.
In December 1952, at the age of 11, she moved to Canada with her parents and nine brothers
and sisters. Her family settled in Baddeck, NS, where they farmed for many years.
Mia was a dedicated RN, who took pride in her profession. She trained at St. Elizabeth School
of Nursing in North Sydney, NS and graduated in 1965. After graduation, she worked in hospital
nursing in both Ontario and Nova Scotia. The majority of her career was spent working in the
ER at Northside General Hospital, North Sydney, NS. Always a humble person, Mia would not
brag about her abilities. However, colleagues would often describe her as dedicated, steadfast,
level-headed, smart, and professional, while patients described her as an angel on earth,
always comforting, caring and kind.
Mia retired in 2007, after 40+ years of nursing. During retirement, she spent her time traveling
with her husband to many places in Canada and the US. She returned, for the first time, to visit
her birthplace, the Netherlands. Mia dedicated her time to volunteering and fundraising for
various charities, including the Arthritis Society, Cancer Society, Parkinson’s Canada and
Christmas Daddies. In her free time, she loved playing darts, bowling, dancing, attending family
gatherings, seniors programs and community events, often while watching her husband Bob
entertain; She was his biggest fan.
Mia will be deeply missed by her beloved husband Robert (Bob) Mac Donald, children, Robert
(Stacey) Barrie, Mia (Glenn) Patterson, Donna Brown, Dianne MacGillivray, Deborah
MacDonald, Alunda (Robert) Chambers, Robert MacDonald, Sarah (Mark) MacDonald, 20
grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
Mia is survived by her siblings Joanne (Frank) McKenna, Lennie (Roger) MacAulay, Gasha
Connelly, Melisha (Joseph) Davis, Peter (Debbie) Cox and Reitje Nicholson; sisters-in-law Annie
Cox, Mabel Cox, Marjorie MacKinnon, Alounda MacDonald, Angela (James) Jessome, Mary
Fraser and brother in laws Walter (Lynn) MacDonald, Dannie (Marjorie) MacDonald, Gerard
(Debbie) MacDonald, Peter MacDonald, Donnie (Shirley) MacDonald, Alan (Nancy) MacDonald,
Paul (Frances) MacDonald and Michael (Theresa) MacDonald, and numerous nieces and
nephews.
Mia was predeceased by her parents William and Marie (Snijkers) Cox, mother-in-law and
father-in-law Bob and Sadie Mae (Jobes/MacKinnon) MacDonald, her stepdaughter Corrina
MacDonald-Jessome, siblings Leo Cox, Jackie Cox, Meintje Campbell, her brothers-in-law Lee
Connelly, George Campbell, Tommy Finlayson, Leo MacKinnon, Larry Fraser and Johnnie
MacDonald; sisters-in-law Nora MacDonald, Jane Finlayson, Catherine MacDonald and
Theresa MacDonald, son-in- law Perry Brown, grandson Liam Brown, nephews Nicholas
Withers, Zachary MacDonald and Richard Connelly and nieces Leah MacKinnon, Alounda
MacKinnon, Melissa MacDonald, and Catherine Montgomery.
Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at J.M. Jobes Funeral Home, 635 Main
St, Sydney Mines, N.S.
Visitation: 1:00 -3:00 p.m.
Service: 3:00 p.m.
Reception to follow at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 8, 769 Main St. Sydney Mines, N.S.
Special thanks to the An Cala Palliative Care Unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.
Donations in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Parkinson’s Canada.

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