Nerta Ann Jerrett

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Nerta Jerrett, at age 85, on February 25, 2025 at Miner’s Memorial Manor in Sydney Mines, after a long journey with Parkinson’s Disease.
Born on June 9, 1939, Nerta was the daughter of Annie (nee Jones) and Frank MacLean of Sydney Mines. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Harry Jerrett, with whom she shared a strong and enduring love and partnership.
She is also survived by sons Terry (Alma), Darrell (Alma), and Blair (Joanne), and by her beloved grandchildren – Darrell Jerrett (Raeann), Jeff Jerrett (Elizabeth), Kurt Jerrett (Brittany), Lauren Lamey (James), Brett Jerrett (Sarah), Ciara Watton (Matt), and Katie Jerrett-LeFort (Ryan), as well as by her cherished great-grandchildren Bryn, Shay, Lachlan and Chloe, and by many much-loved nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was pre-deceased by brothers Monty MacLean (Ruth), Roy MacLean (Theresa), sister Dorothy Hawboldt (Charlie), and daughter-in-law Alma Jerrett (Terry).
Nerta was enormously proud of all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her many friends and colleagues were frequently treated to endless updates on their many accomplishments.
Nerta was known for her intelligence, quick mind, tireless work ethic, and for her generosity and kindness toward friends and relatives.
She had a successful and varied work life that included helping husband Harry in the running of Josie’s Restaurants Ltd. locations in Balls Creek, the Sydney Airport, and Marine Atlantic Terminal in North Sydney, plus management positions at Holiday Inn and at other food-service establishments.   But it was later in life that she found her true calling – real estate. After scoring the highest mark on the real estate exam, she went on to a successful career at Black & Son Real Estate. She quickly became very well known in the industry, and was one of the top-selling agents on Cape Breton Island. She loved her work assisting her many clients in buying and selling their homes – something she continued to do until age 75.
Over the years, during her often-short leisure time, she enjoyed many trips to the Caribbean (especially Barbados) and the USA with Harry. For more than 40 years, she loved spending summers in their RV on the Bras d’Or Lakes at “The Land,” in Ironville, along with her cherished friends there. Nerta was also an avid skater, and for many years, joined friends at skating rinks around Cape Breton. She had a wide circle of friends, many of them formed through Harry’s and her involvement with the Kinsmen and Kinette Club of Sydney Mines, where she served a term as President.
Nerta was known for her cooking and baking – in particular her shortbreads, Cape Breton pork pies, cakes, and her infamous Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole, the recipe for which (much to her chagrin), remains a family favorite, and is now made by her children and grandchildren. She also had a love of clothes, and a great sense of style.
We, the family, would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of the Miner’s Memorial Manor for their care and compassion, and to dear friend Barbara MacIntyre, for her support and companionship with mom over the past few years. One of mom’s many sayings was, “You only get one mother.” We were blessed with one of the best.
Visitation (1-3 p.m.), followed by funeral service at 3 p.m. will take place on Saturday, March 1 at J. M. Jobes Funeral Home, 635 Main Street, Sydney Mines.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Nerta can be made to Parkinson Canada at donate.Parkinson.ca

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