Bernard Daniel MacAskill

Aulds Cove, Antigonish County

Born August 24, 1933 in Mulgrave, Guysborough County, NS

Poppy, Grandpa, Dad, Bern...Bernie. Already we miss you. You might have been quiet but never silent. We always felt, we still feel, your presence deeply. Your strong determination, resilient spirit, love of family. Just silent for a while.  

With deep sadness and respect we share with you that our dad passed on, Thursday, July 31. Dad was turning 92. He died peacefully with family by his side. He and Mom, our parents, celebrated 70 years together on July 30 with her by his side. Some of his last words were “I had a good life” … and he smiled.  

Dad was an example of leading by example, not words. That never stopped us from asking him everything and anything. Why? Because he knew the answer! The name of that tree, what to grow in your garden, what tool to use and for what (he had them all) how to play crib and scrabble to get the most points, to explain the battle of Culloden and why the MacAskill’s ended up on River Deny’s Mountain, Cape Breton. Everything about what was happening in the world and why. He was savvier online than most, and his latter years were often spent watching YouTube fixit videos or listening to real fiddle music. He knew all the hockey players, all the scores, who would make the playoffs. He grew the most rhubarb and the biggest zucchini in the county, our freezers always stocked.  

Dad was a community leader, always. He was a valued member of the Aulds Cove Fire Dept for more years than anyone can remember. He was actively involved on the Board to construct the Resting Place in Mulgrave, President of the Parish Council, member and executive of the Port Hawkesbury Minor Hockey Assoc. He built the first playground at the Havre Boucher elementary school, kept a vibrant outdoor rink going across the road initiating years of supporting his four sons in their hockey adventures and later his grandchildren. He spent as many hours in the rinks and gyms as he did in the woods. Always a hard worker, he spent time in the woods in his early teens, was taught to weld by “the Newfoundlanders” while working on the building of the Canso Causeway and had a long career at the mill.

He and Mom spent hours “babysitting” our children and forming loving grandparent bonds. They toured and traveled Canada and the US. His trip to Scotland with his sons (which he thoroughly researched) took him to his roots -- but “home” was always the home he built, with the wood he lumbered on the land he owned out back, the land he loved and where he and Mom raised our family. He was immensely proud of his wife, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchild. They were his world. He and the family are thankful for his lifelong neighbors / friends and community.    

He is predeceased by his son, Danny; grandson, Justin; siblings, Anthony, Allister, Carol and Anne; Parents, Jean (Brophy) and Dan.  

He leaves behind a trail of loving family including his wife and lifelong partner, Barbara (Meagher); children, Deb (Michael), Steve (Ramona), Kevin (Barb), Liz (Dean) and Peter (Nicole); grandchildren Lindsay, Corey, Patrick, Ben, Jonathan, Alex, Nathan (Rachel), Jennifer, Stuart, Katie, Noah, Liam, Erin and Emma; and great granddaughter Lilly!  

Thank you to the staff and doctors at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre, unit E2 and to all the doctors, nurses and caregivers who helped dad with his determined will to live life.     

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 11a.m., in St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, Mulgrave with a reception to follow at the Aulds Cove Firehall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society or St Lawrence Parish. 

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com