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Stephen Francis MacKinnon
90, Glace Bay
Frank MacKinnon passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Glace Bay and was predeceased by his parents, James Joseph Edward and Margaret (MacNeil) MacKinnon.
He was a member of St. Anne’s Parish and was employed by Devco working for 50 years, as a check weighman in the Stirling coal yard.
A devoted family man, he is survived by his beloved wife, Bess (Ogilvie); his children, Welhela MacNeil (John), Glace Bay, Frank (Lyn) Red Deer, Helen Tramontin (Louis), Toronto, Jamie (Ann) Dutch Brook, Scott, Glace Bay, Marga Morrissey (Ray) Barrie, Ont., and Beth Broderick (Chuck), Blackett’s Lake. He is survived by his 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, all of whom enriched his life.
Frank is also survived by his brother, Colin (Hazel), British Columbia, sisters, Eileen Minecola (Al), California, Gertrude Butler, Toronto, Margaret Hall, Halifax, Teresa Nicholson (Joe) Dominion, and Edythe Muise, Halifax.
He was predeceased by his brothers, James, M.J., Ambrose and sisters, Sally, Ann and Mary.
Frank was a fine athlete and participated in many sports, playing rugby, baseball, soccer, hockey, basketball in his younger years, on many championship teams.
Throughout his life he continued to participate in curling, hockey, and played a fine game of tennis until his early 80s.
Frank was a notable man in the field of harness racing. He trained several champions and his ability to train with kindness was legend. He was on the commission with the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Association as well as an associate and presiding judge at Tartan Downs Raceway, Sydney for many years.
After retiring from this area of racing, he continued to train horses until his 80th year.
Frank was admitted to the Racing Hall of Fame in 1984. He passed on his love of team sports and horses to his children and grandchildren and took great pride in their enjoyment of the game.
Frank will be remembered as an honourable man. He taught us that greatness is not found in possessions or power, but discovered in truth, goodness and humility. He was such a man.
Visitation will be held Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in Curry’s Funeral Home Ltd., 775 Main St., Glace Bay. Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated Thursday 11 a.m. in St. Anne’s Church, Main Street, Glace Bay, with Rev. Doug Murphy officiating. Cremation to follow with interment at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to the Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton and/or the Two Rivers Wildlife Park fund.
Elmer MacCormack
85, Glace Bay
William Elmer MacCormack, 85, of 55 Munroe St., Dominion and formerly of Glace Bay, passed away at the Glace Bay Health Care Complex, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001, after a brief illness.
Born in Glace Bay, he was predeceased by his parents, Louis and Helen (Madower) MacCormack. He was also predeceased by two sons, Ralph Stephen in 1943 and Paul Daniel in 1947.
He is survived by his wife, Mary (Parrott, MacMullin) MacCormack; sons, William Louis ‘Bill’, Big Harbour, Victoria County, Murdock Bruce, Barrie, Ont., and Paul Kevin, Brampton, Ont.; daughters, Betty (George) Nearing, Glace Bay, Mora MacCormack, Toronto; also survived by nine stepchildren and eight grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; two sisters, Gertrude Stack, Sydney and Eileen MacCain, Windsor, Ont.
Elmer played on the same team with his sons in the first broomball league in Glace Bay. He was an avid angler in his younger years. He was a veteran of the Second World War, having served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. After the war he had been employed with Air Canada, from where he retired after 23 years of service.
Elmer was very active in the legion and was past president of Branch 3, Royal Canadian Legion from 1973-1978 and from 1986-1987.
There will be no visitation. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held Monday, Feb. 12, 2001 at 10 a.m. in Curry’s Funeral Home Chapel, 775 Main St., Glace Bay, with Rev. Paul McGillvray officiating. Family will meet with relatives and friends at this time.
Family flowers only, memorial donations may be made to the Glace Bay Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society or to a charity of one’s choice.
Bernard John Yorke
63, Glace Bay
Bernard John Yorke, 63, of Hill Street, Glace Bay, passed away after a brief illness, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2001, at the Glace Bay Health Care Complex.
Born in Glace Bay, he was the son of the former Matilda Kokoska and the late John Yorke of Hill Street, Glace Bay.
Bernard spent most of his adult life in Ontario and was employed with Environment Canada as a meteorologist. Previous to this he spent eight years in the Armed Forces in Downsview, Ont. After retiring, he returned home to Glace Bay.
He is survived by brothers, Eddie (Candy), California, Ches (Cathy), Belleville, Ont., Gerry (Jerusha), Hillier Street, Glace Bay; sisters, Rose Smith, Puerto Rico, and Irene (Terry) Donovan, Antigonish, and by several nieces and nephews.
There will no visitation. Cremation has taken place under the direction of V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 16 Reserve St., Glace Bay. A private ceremony is planned for a later date.
David Garfield McNeil
52, Glace Bay
David Garfield McNeil, 52, of 879 Main St., passed away peacefully at Baddeck Hospital Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001. For the past two years David had resided at L’Arche, Whycocomagh.
While at L’Arche, David had made many good friends who enjoyed company and his sense of humor. The L’Arche community have fulfilled David’s final years with friendship, compassion and loving care.
Born in Glace Bay, he was the son of the late John T. and Catherine (Kitty) McNeil.
He was predeceased by a sister Janice and an infant brother Jerome.
He is survived by three brothers, John and Marion, Allan, (Peg) Hamilton, Ont. and Ronald, Glace Bay; two sisters, Frances (Mrs. Michael Kieley) Glace Bay, Marilyn (Mrs. George Young), Hamilton, Ont.; brother-in-law, Jerome Poirier, Glace Bay; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation Monday after 4 p.m. in the chapel at L’Arche and Tuesday from 2-4, 7-9 p.m. in the V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 16 Reserve St. Glace Bay. Funeral Wednesday at 11 a.m. in St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church, Fr. Clifford Bisson officiating. Burial in the parish Cemetery.
Family flowers only. Donations to L’Arche Cape Breton would be greatly appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
Alvin Stanley 'Aullie' Verbiski
81, Glace Bay
Alvin Stanley ‘Aullay’ Verbiski, 81, of 47 School St., Glace Bay, died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2001, at his residence.
Born in Glace Bay, he was the son of the late John and Angela (Strickey Verbesky.
Aullay was a member of Saint Anthony’s Church Glace Bay. He served overseas in the Second World War with the Engineers. His overseas duties took him to Holland, Germany, Sicily, Italy and North Africa. He was a member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #3, Glace Bay for over 50 years. Aullay worked in Caledonia Colliery where he was active in the local miners’ union. He also worked for a time in Point Edward refitting ships and at the Glace Bay pumping station until his retirement. He played senior hockey in Glace Bay and was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Surviving are his wife the former Alexis MacKay; two sons, Mort (Cherie), Saint John’s, Newfoundland and Barry (Marguerite), Glace Bay; brother, Bernie Verbeski and two sisters, Etta Verbeski and Minnie Verbeski, all of Glace Bay. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Barry Verbiski, Pasadena, Newfoundland, Chris Verbeski, Saint John’s, Newfoundland, Kent Verbeski and Jared Verbeski both of Glace Bay; three great- grandchildren.
Besides his parents he was predeceased by three brothers, Frank, John and Norman, two sisters, Harriett and Josie.
Funeral arrangements for the late Aullay Verbiski under the direction of the V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home 16 Reserve St., Glace Bay are incomplete and will be announced at a later date.
Gertrude Frances (Steele) Currie
63, Glace Bay
Gertrude Frances (Steele) Currie, age 63, of 185 Brookland St., Glace Bay passed away Friday, March 9, 2001, at her residence.
Born in Glace Bay she was the daughter of the late Colin Francis and Mary (O’Handley) Steele. She was a member of Holy Cross Church, Glace Bay.
She will be sadly missed by daughters, Mary Darlene Currie, Samantha Denise Currie, both of Glace Bay, and Sheila Marie Currie-Spencer, Shilo, Man.; sons, Francis Shane, Saskatoon, and Christopher Shannon, Calgary; brothers, John Ronald Steele, Glace Bay, Colin Francis Steele, Edmonton, and James Melvin (Maude) McNeil, Grand Cache, Alta.; sisters, Mary Margaret (Cletus) Stanley, Glace Bay, and Christina Sharon (Joseph Adrian) Harrietha, Dominion; and four grandchildren.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, George Gordon, sister, Veronica Dianne Campbell and two grandchildren.
There will be no visitation for Mrs. Currie. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held Monday, 2:30 p.m. in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home Chapel, 16 Reserve St., Glace Bay, Fr. John Graham will be officiating. Interment will be at a later date in St. Anne’s Cemetery. Donations in Mrs. Currie’s memory to the Canadian Cancer Society are suggested as an expression of sympathy.
