Obituary of Helen Dunlop Wilson MacDONALD

December 20, 1924 – Bo’ness, Scotland February 9, 2018 – Calgary, Alberta Helen Dunlop Wilson MacDonald of Calgary passed away February 9, 2018 at the age of 93 years. Helen was born in Bo’ness Scotland, the daughter to Thomas Spence and Margaret Hardie. At the age of five she immigrated to Springhill, N.S. where she spent many happy years. Besides being a great homemaker and cook she worked along side her husband Naz in their “MacDonald’s Lucky Dollar” grocery store. She was very proud of their store and took great joy in helping the neighbourhood children learn to count when buying penny candies. Helen and Naz retired from the retail business in 1986 and then spent the next number of years travelling to spend time with their daughter and family as well as to Florida for some of the winter months. Following her husband’s death in 1996 Helen moved to Calgary to be with her daughter and her family. She was a very kind and caring mother and grandmother and enriched their lives with her devotion and boundless love. Family meant everything to Helen and she brought great joy to them all. As the matriarch of the “Spence clan” Helen was known as “Nen” to her younger siblings, nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by them all. Helen was predeceased by her husband Thomas Desmond (Naz) MacDonald and is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Hannah and David Johnson; three grandchildren, Ian (Coralee) Johnson, Robert Johnson and Heather (Jared) Collister; and four great-grandchildren, James Johnson, Karys Johnson, Sawyer Collister and Eliana Collister all of Calgary. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters, John (Lucy) Spence of Springhill, Nova Scotia, Margaret (Thomas) Thompson of Florida, Thomas Spence of Truro, Nova Scotia, Robert Spence of Springhill, Nova Scotia, Mary Lou (Jack) Bourgeois of Springhill, Nova Scotia and William (Ruth) Spence of Port Howe, Nova Scotia. She was predeceased by two sisters-in-law, Carol Spence and Vivian Spence. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1414 Shawnessy Blvd S.W., Calgary on Friday, February 16, 2018 at 2:00pm. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Helen MacDonald, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: 403-256-9575.