Obituary of Bessie Grace MacAskill

Bessie Grace Mac Askill

Jan 10, 1934 - Feb 22, 2025

 

We are profoundly sad to announce the passing of Bessie Mac Askill in the early hours of February 22. Bessie slipped away quietly in the emergency department of the QE II with family by her side. 

Born at home in Cape North, Bessie was the eldest daughter of the late Collie and Helen (Sloan) MacLeod. 

Bessie was a homemaker whose greatest joy came from family, cooking, baking ....especially her delicious bread...and in latter years enjoyed many hours volunteering at the Port Hawkesbury Evergreen Seniors Club. She could always be counted on to be on deck for their many fundraising breakfasts, dinners, knitting hundreds of socks for their many sales and spending hundreds of hours quilting with the wonderful quilter’s group. 

Sadly, Covid separated her from these activities and compression fractures at the same time began to limit her activities. Before and after dad’s passing in 2020 her greatest support was her son David who stayed with her. Bessie has always been a caregiver looking after a few of her siblings in her early years as a big sister and as an adult as various siblings encountered various health challenges. 

She was grateful to move in with her daughter in the summer of 2022 where despite chronic pain still managed to produce lots of cookies and pies and bread and rolls “for Doug”.  She was so pleased to be able to attend Keltie and Sacha’s wedding on Oct 20 and the photo was taken at that time. 

Bessie is survived by her son, David, Upper Tantallon; daughter, Dolena MacDonald (Doug), Upper Tantallon; grandchildren, Erin Mac Donald (Damascus), and Keltie Mac Donald (Sacha Stephan), Halifax; brother, Alfred Mac Leod, Cape North; sister Dorothy Mac Leod, Cheticamp; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Bessie was predeceased by husband, Russell; sister, Georgina; brothers, Freddie, Fraser, Rory and sadly one week prior her eldest brother, Murdock. 

Cremation has taken place under the care of Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury. Services will be held next summer in Cape North. Memorials may be made to Aspy Bay United Church e-transfer aspybaychurch@gmail.com or a charity of your choice. 

The family would like to thank mom’s doctor who was so kind to take her on – Dr. Jennifer O’Connell; paramedics, Ben and Levi, Mike, Emily (special thanks for coming back to check in with us) and Sarah (you will be a wonderful paramedic!). Dr. Nick Sowers for your kind counsel, nurse Tianna and Dr. Scott Mac Donald. We would also like to thank the many caregivers from Closing the Gap over the last two years especially Tracy (mom loved her crib games with you), Sue, Heather and more recently Mark, Victor and Judith. 

Words of comfort to the family can be sent to the family at: www.haverstocks.com

 

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