Obituaries

Margaret Mary Forsythe (MacEachern) Dunn

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Margaret Mary Forsythe (MacEachern) Dunn in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital on September 1, 2026. Margaret was born in Halifax on February 22, 1939, but grew up in Queensville, Inverness County. Margaret attended the Queensville School and graduated from Mabou Convent School. Following high school, she enrolled in secretarial studies at Mount St. Bernard College and later worked as a secretary for Chisholm Construction Company in Antigonish for four years. She also worked for a local legal firm. In her spare time, she would cross the road to help Santa prepare for his Christmas engagements.

Margaret married James Fraser Dunn on August 1, 1960, and they made their home in Lower South River. Margaret was the proud and devoted mother of James Anthony Dunn, Michael Coady Dunn (Cindy Degaust) and Jacqueline Ann Dunn MacIsaac (Shane MacIsaac).

Margaret was predeceased by her father, John Willie MacEachern, and her mother, Kate Sarah (MacMaster) MacEachern.

Family was everything to Margaret and she was always there in any capacity to support her family. She also devoted much of her life to taking care of her parents, Fraser’s parents, her uncle, Dan Hughie MacEachern, as well as other close friends and relatives.

Music and dance were paramount in Margaret’s life. She grew up in a family immersed in Cape Breton music and culture. She began performing publicly as a step dancer at age four, dancing to her father’s fiddling. Later, she performed as a fiddler and piano accompanist and taught Cape Breton step dancing for 11 years in Antigonish. Margaret danced at parish concerts around Cape Breton and became a favourite performer at all the main outdoor concerts in Cape Breton and Antigonish. Her name was well known in music and dance circles, and her dancing was respected for its incredible timing, precision, and drive, while remaining true to the traditional Cape Breton style. Recently, Margaret served as one of six mentors for the “A Timeless Art: A Cape Breton Step Dance Collective” and has been featured in several books written about Cape Breton step dancing. In 1977, Margaret was asked to travel to Scotland to perform with a group of Cape Breton and mainland Nova Scotia musicians to promote Nova Scotia as a possible host for a future Gathering of the Clans. For 11 years, Margaret organized the Tuesday night Antigonish Highland Games Concert, which she called “Ceilidh Beag”, and she was instrumental in arranging for Cape Breton fiddle classes to be offered in Antigonish. She was awarded a life membership in the Antigonish Highland Society as well as a 60-year pin acknowledging her years as part of the St. Andrews Catholic Women’s League.

Margaret never liked praise or recognition, but she was the first to encourage and celebrate others. She was a lifelong fan of figure skating and, more recently, a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays. Margaret leaves behind a beautiful legacy of faith, tradition, culture, humility, humour, and care. Through her quiet gestures, she touched countless lives and hearts.

Margaret’s family thanks the doctors, nurses, and support staff of St. Martha’s Regional Hospital for their excellent care during her time on the third and fourth floors and in the palliative care unit.

Visitation was held on Sept. 6, 2026, in MacIsaac Funeral Home, Antigonish with the funeral Mass held on Sept. 7, 2026, in St. Andrew’s Church, St. Andrews. Burial followed in the parish cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the St. Andrew Cemetery Fund or a charity of one’s choice.

Donna Edith Wheeldon (nee Power)

October 18th, 1947 – February 25, 2026

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Donna Edith Wheeldon (nee Power), Cobourg, Ontario; born in Halifax and formerly from Queensport, Nova Scotia. Donna passed away after a long illness on February 25, 2026, at the age of 78, leaving to mourn family and friends.

Donna was predeceased by her parents William Power and Cynthia Power(Williams) and by her brother James Power (Jeanette). She will be deeply missed by her loving and devoted husband, Keith. She was step-mother to Jeff (Alisa) and Tara (Joseph). Cherished grandmother of Jonah, Seth and Arielle. Loving sister to Heather, Bella, Cynthia and Barry.

A committal service will be held on Saturday, September 12, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Christ Church Cemetery in Queensport, Nova Scotia. All are welcome to attend.