Obituary of Verna Claire MacIntosh

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Verna Claire MacIntosh, nee Sams, age 89, at Guysborough Memorial Hospital, Guysborough, Nova Scotia on Saturday, April 26^th, 2025.

 

Born on March 12, 1936, in Cape Breton (New Haven), Nova Scotia, she was the daughter of John Sams of New Haven, NS, and Dorothy Lamey of Clearland, NS.  A strong, independent woman with a keen intellect, Verna was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and the beloved sister of 5 siblings.

 

She is survived and will be greatly missed by her son, Daryl (Sao) of Vancouver, B.C.; her daughter, Lynda (George) of Port Shoreham, N.S.; grandsons, Ryan and Dylan MacIntosh of Vancouver, B.C., Colin Holmstrom (Sarah) of Brooklin, Ontario; grand-daughter, Katherine de Vries of Los Angeles, California; great-grandsons, Jeremy and Jared Holmstrom; sister, Judith Bonnell (Howard); and brother, Ralph Sams (Dorothy), of Halifax, N.S.  Verna was pre-deceased by her husband, Keith MacIntosh; brother, Sandy Sams; sister, Jean Billard (Lloyd); sisters-in-law Karen Dort (Joe) and Carol MacIntosh; and brothers-in-law, Carl MacIntosh, Lloyd Billard, Howard Bonnell and Earl Wright.

 

From her roots in New Haven, a small fishing village in Northern Cape Breton, Verna left home to attend high school in Port Hawkesbury, N.S. and on to Halifax NS to attend Vocational College.  She was subsequently recruited to work as a clerk/typist at the N.S. Power Commission.  After marriage, and a short stint in the Municipal Office in Guysborough, N.S., Verna moved to Ontario where she built a rewarding career as a meat trader … a male-dominated industry in which she gained a great deal of respect and recognition.  Verna’s work provided regular travel opportunities to Chicago and Phoenix in the United States, as well as to cities in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Belgium, and the Netherlands.   Her career culminated in her role as General Manager of Samco Meats, Canada.  She continued to work full time after moving back to Nova Scotia in 1994, spending 8+ years working out of her home office in Port Shoreham.      

 

Verna was often seen on Port Shoreham Beach and at Ragged Head, where she walked daily from her house on Gorman’s Hill well into her 80’s.  Amongst family and friends, Verna will be best remembered for her generosity to her children and grandchildren, her sharp wit and sense of humour, her marathon telephone conversations, open house, fabulous three course meals, massive batches of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon rolls and raisin bread.       

 

A celebration of her life is being planned for late summer 2025.  Donations in her memory may be made to Guysborough Memorial Hospital, Boylston Community Centre, Boylston United Church, and Manchester Cemetery. 

 

Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Guysborough.

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