MCCARTHY

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Marion Winnifred Thompson and Abraham Milton Fiander.

Beloved wife of John Edward Currie McCarthy (Currie - deceased), loving mother of Carolyn (Terry), Peter (Julie) and Michelle, fabulous grandmother of: JoséEve (Guillaume), Brendan, Sean, Amelia (fiancé Téo),Léah and Anne-Sophie. Older sister to Mary (John) and Runa.

As a child, Winnifred lived in many towns throughout the Atlantic provinces and became quite comfortable with new places. As a young woman, she graduated from a business course at Mount St. Vincent Academy.

She met the love of her life, Currie, at a local skating rink, where he was known as a talented and graceful hockey player. They married on December 23, 1961. Never one bound to tradition, Winnifred wore a beautiful turquoise coloured dress. Three children followed in short succession: Carolyn, Peter and Michelle. After Winnifred’s father, Milton died in 1967, her young lively family moved to Fredericton to live with Winnifred’s mother, Marion. Later, Winnifred, Currie, the kids, and Marion moved to St. John’s, Newfoundland.

During their 7 year stay there, Winnifred became a founding member of the local Women’s Group and studied Sociology and Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Her family enjoyed camping, canoeing and exploring the outdoors.

In 1977, upon Currie’s acceptance of a new job, the family moved to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.

Here in their new province, the family continued following their passion for camping and canoeing at their favourite National Park Kejimkujik (Keji).

Winnifred made her mark in Bridgewater, as a founding member of the Second Story Women’s Centre and she was the first woman to work in Bridgewater’s Liquor Store. Later, working at the Library headquarters, she hand delivered books to people in nursing homes and arranged volunteer visits to seniors. She continued her university studies, eventually graduating from Acadia University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, minoring in Gerontology. In 2000 her husband Currie passed away. Winnifred continued working at the library headquarters until her 65th birthday.

She lived happily in Bridgewater for a total of 46 years. She never missed an opportunity to hear live music, and often danced the night away. Where there was music, there was Winnifred.

She divided her Christmases between Montreal and Toronto, spending time with her children and grandchildren. Together they baked cookies, wore silly festive hats, and carried on the Christmas tradition of watching The Sound of Music together.

During visits to Toronto, Winnifred enjoyed the Tea Room at St. Clair O’Connor Community Inc. (SCOC) and often said that she would like to eventually live there. In 2023 she got her wish. Carolyn, Terry, and Amelia moved Winnifred and her gorgeous cat Edie to Toronto. She decorated her new apartment with her eclectic collection. As Winnifred always said, “a place was not home until the art is hung on the walls”. She embraced this new chapter of her life with enthusiasm and joy. At SCOC, Winnifred was part of the Worship Committee, worked in the library, and was televised last Christmas preparing colourful “Blessing Bags” filled with daily essentials for the Compassion Pathways Program.

Overall, she was a woman of varied interests. These included: reading, storytelling, dancing, drumming, aqua fit, canoeing, kayaking, dragon boating, gardening and travelling. Her travels included; England, Ireland, China, Mexico and Costa Rica. She was a member of the South Shore Naturalist Club, South Shore Hiking Club, Red Hatters (Crown Jewels), Toastmasters, The Flourish Social Club for Seniors, Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre, and TOPS.

Winnifred lived her life with gusto whether dancing, counting turtles and loons in Keji, or eating a hot dog. Her joie de vivre and passion for nature lives on in the hearts of her family.

A memorial service was held at her home in Toronto. Winnifred will been interred with her husband Currie at Brookside Cemetery in Bridgewater, NS.

A hot dog bbq and celebration of her life will be held at The Flourish Social Club for Seniors, 90 Dominion Street on August 24 at noon. For more information feel free to email Carolyn at: cwa.mccarthy@gmail.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Friends of Keji or Second Story Women’s Centre