With heavy hearts, the family of Donna (Halliday) MacDonald of Guysborough, formerly of Sydney and Antigonish and daughter of the late George and Kaye Halliday, passed away on Monday, December 15, 2025, in the Guysborough Memorial Hospital. She was predeceased by her husband Miles in 2022. Mom leaves their children, Lori, The Woodlands, Texas; Aaron, Guysborough; Joel (Michelle), New Westminster, BC. She is also survived by her precious 5 grandchildren, Ellie, Brad and Kate Salsman, The Woodlands, Texas; Callum and Chloe MacDonald, New Westminster, BC; and bonus grandson, Lucas, New Westminster, BC. Also surviving are her brother Bob (Cathy), Dartmouth; sister, Debbie (Nick), Sydney; and many wonderful, caring nieces and nephews. Mom was predeceased by her dear sisters, Karen and June and Georgina "Gina" and brother, Thomas in infancy; niece, Deborah.

We would be amiss if we didn't give mention to Mom's special and wonderful friends over the years. She considered herself very fortunate to have had so many close friendships, from Sydney to Antigonish to Guysborough, where Mom and Dad lived since 1975. But her Guysborough friends got her through the many difficult days after our Dad passed in November 2022. They are extended family.

When reminising about her moving to Antigonish in June 1967, it became a constant playful banter between her and Dad about who followed who to Antigonish. Mom always said she went first, in June, to work at St. FX and that Dad followed her in September to attend university, a fact he always playfully disputed. Mom knew, but as it doesn't really matter, a little over a year later, they were married. She worked at St. FX for over seven years, in the Education Department, but also had a position with the then President of St. FX, Father Malcolm MacDonell, until she had their firstborn, Lori. Two years later, they moved to Guysborough, where Mom said they were staying until Lori started school, hoping to return to Sydney at a later date to be close to family. And here she was, over 50 years later, still living in Guysborough and as it turned out, a wonderful warm and special community to raise a family.

Before Mom went back to work full-time, she spent 2 years subbing in Dr. Anita Foley's office, a position she loved. Mom also worked for 21 years with the Strait Regional School Board, specifically at both Chedabucto Elementary and Guysborough Academy, waiting until the youngest in the family was in Grade 2 before returning to full-time work. She always said that, if possible, she wanted to stay home with the children and eventually hoped to return to work that would allow for school hours.

While Mom and Dad dearly loved their special Antigonish friends, who back in the day played Rummoli and Monopoly weekly and later included their fun hockey parents who often tried to get Mom in trouble (S and D), she said she wants her Guysborough friends to have a girls night to celebrate their decades together, a special night that she said won't have to help make any preperations.

Cremation has taken place. There will be no wake. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 11 a.m. from Wesley United Church, Guysborough with Rev. Heather Manuel officiating. A reception will follow at the CLC. Memorial donations may be made to GOALS, 60 Queen St., Guysborough, NS, B0H-1N0 or to the Guysborough Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Mom suffered from Pulmonary Fibrosis for several years, caused by Lupus. Burial will be in Hardwood Hill Cemetery in Sydney with Dad and next to her parents at a later date. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at www.haverstocks.com