Elmer MACNEIL

MacNEIL, Elmer "Red" - 80, Mill Creek/Sydney Mines. It is with sadness and broken hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Elmer "Red" MacNeil, on Thursday, March 6, 2008, in Northside General Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Born in New Glasgow, he was a son of the late John and Mabel (Burns) MacNeil. Elmer was a member of St. Joseph's Church, Bras d'Or, and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 8, Sydney Mines. Elmer was a devoted husband, father and mentor to his children and grandchildren, who were his greatest joy. He was an employee of Devco for 33 years as a mine supervisor and various other positions. He was also a merchant marine in his younger years. His greatest passion was boxing and he took great pride in teaching his sons and other boys in the surrounding community. Elmer is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Heady (Gale); daughters, Ellen (Kenneth) Ashe, Mill Creek; Terry (David) Briers, Halifax; Michelle, North Sydney; Audrey (Earl) Gerrow, Florence; Heather (Kenneth) Paquet, Sydney Mines; sons, Greg, Arichat; Kenny (Eileen), Sydney Mines; Paul (Mary), Ontario; Eric (Susan), New Glasgow; Michael (Carolyn), Bras d'Or; 19 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters, Sylvia LeBlanc, Halifax, and Stella Bayden, Niagara Falls. Elmer was predeceased by brothers, John, Douglas; sisters, Mary Tilley, Helen, Clara, Dorothy, Edith, and grandchildren, Kenneth Elmer Charles Ashe, Kimberly Marie Ashe, and Steven Derick MacNeil. Visitation will be held in J.M. Jobes Funeral Home, 635 Main St., Sydney Mines, today from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10:30 a.m. in St. Joseph's Church, Bras d'Or, with Father Peter MacLeod officiating. Burial will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Sydney. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lung Association of Nova Scotia or Canadian National Institute for the Blind. On-line condolence may be sent to the family at: jmjobesfuneralhome@ns.aliantzinc.ca We are so very proud of you and love you so much. Our memories of you will never fade. We wish you eternal peace and we will all be together again some day.