Michael "Mick" Harrietha

Michael Vincent “Mick” Harrietha

Mill Creek

It is with broken hearts that we, the family, announce the passing of our wonderful father, husband, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and friend, Mick, in the An Cala Unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.   Dad was the last surviving member of his immediate family.

Born December 2, 1932, Dad was the son of the late Joseph Harrietha and Mary Anne (Molly) Waugh of Point Aconi.   It is impossible to reflect on Dad without talking about our mom, Dad’s soul mate and love of his life, Nettie, who passed in 2018, having been married for 64 years at the time of her death.  Dad and Mom resided in Mill Creek for all of their married life. 

Dad left school and started working at a young age digging coal in crop pits to help support his family.  For a few years, Dad sailed on the Great Lakes before returning to work in the mining industry at Princess Colliery in Sydney Mines, and in the later years working in the Prince Mine Colliery, finishing his career in the fan house in Point Aconi until the time of his retirement. 

Dad had many enjoyments in his lifetime, having been involved in bowling leagues, dart leagues and playing baseball, even in later years when all his sons played with him...they could almost form a team of their own.  He loved raising pigs, which he did for a lot of years and growing a large garden, being well known for his huge cucumber patch, leaving carts at the top of his driveway to let neighbours help themselves.  We spent many a day peeling cucumbers on the back deck with Dad, which everyone loved. 

Dad loved playing cards, watching all sporting events, especially lots of hockey and baseball, which he and mom watched until the late hours.  For many years he decorated the large apple tree in front of our house at Christmas time with lots of lights, which everyone enjoyed.

Dad was a very active member of the Point Aconi Community Development Association where they hosted many events and weddings over the years, including those of all their own children.  He spent many Sunday mornings with his regular clean-up crew after weddings and dances and enjoyed helping out wherever he could.

Dad and Mom enjoyed travelling and did more of it in their retirement years with their good friends Din and Mary (late) which they enjoyed immensely. 

He had a strong belief in his faith and was a dedicated member of St. Joseph Parish, Bras d’Or, where he and mom attended regularly.  

Left to keep his memory alive are his sons, Brian (Colleen), David (Brenda), Gordie (Joanne), Ralph (Ann), and Dale (Nancy) and daughters, Norma (Paul) Bishop and Gwen (Brent) Wadden.  Poppy was also blessed and loved by his 14 grandchildren, Keith, Krista, Lynda, Alisha, Allison, Cory, Erica, Tyler, Natasha, Colin, Graham, Michael, Brandon and Bryanna, as well as 15 great-grandchildren, Sawyer, Leia, Caleb, Hayden, Nathan, Keila, Cole, Maya, Eric, Rory, Isla, Archer, Julia, Emery and Wyatt, and one more on the way.

Dad is also survived by his brother-in-law, Ernie (Nora) Erickson; sisters-in-law, Gonie Harrietha and Millie (late Vince) Erickson and many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Keith, which was our family’s biggest loss and hardship.  He was also predeceased by his brothers, Dan (Vange), Joe (Regina), Jack; his sisters Margaret, Irene (Walter) Rideout, Josie (Joe) O’Shea, Velma (Danny) Bona and Pat (Tommy) Carey, and sister-in-law, Cavelle Fabian.

Thank you to Dr. Eugene Ignacio, for your care and compassion as well as the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Northside General Hospital, Harbour View Hospital and the An Cala Unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.  To his dear friend, Din, who visited him frequently while at home...Thank you!

Visitation for the late Mick Harrietha will be held on Sunday, March 6, 2022 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the JM Jobes Funeral Home, 635 Main St., Sydney Mines. A Funeral Mass to celebrate his life will take place on Monday, March 7, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Alder Point.  Covid 19 protocol will be observed in the funeral home and the church.  Interment will take place at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Joseph Church Cemetery Fund in Little Bras d’Or or a charity of one’s choice. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at www.jmjobesfuneralhome.com.

“Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words and will be missed beyond measure.”