Isabel Margaret (MacDonald) Meagher

December 31, 1915 to July 26, 2004

The following is a Tribute to Isabel MacDonald Meagher

that was published in the Inverness Oran and was written

Crisi MacLellan – Broad Cove

Isabel MacDonald was born in Inverness and lived in Foot Cape.

She was eight years old when her father Dougal passed away.

As he was being waked in the family home, Isabel’s mother died suddenly,

leaving a family of five children with no parents.

Isabel was raised in Broad Cove banks by her uncle and aunt, Eoin and Annie

Beaton. She graduated from Holy Family Convent in Inverness

and then from Normal College in Truro. She taught school in Dunvegan,

West Lake, Mount Young, Glencoe and Broad Cove Banks. Later she married

Donald Meagher from Brook Village, and they moved to Halifax

where they raised their nine children. For years they returned to the old

family home in Brook Village, until in the later 70’s their daughter

Donna built a cottage in Mabou Harbour. Unfortunately Donald passed away

suddenly in 1982; however Isabel and her children and many friends

and eventually all the grandchildren, spent many happy times at the

cottage in Mabou and ceilidhs and dances all over Inverness county.

In the 1970’s when I lived in Halifax, I and many others were warmly

welcomed in Isabel and Donald’s home on Vestry Street. It was very

much a “Cape Breton” home in Halifax – a home away from home for

many Cape Bretoners. It was a home filled with lots of good people in and out,

music, lots of laughter, good food and always great informative conversation

with Isabel. She was extremely knowledgeable on all things “Cape Breton”,

the Gaelic language (which she spoke) and genealogy. She knew who

everyone was, and just “who you were” had to be stored before the third cup of tea.

Many memories have been floating in my mind since I have heard of

Isabel’s death. I cannot remember the Meagher house being quiet or empty;

I can still see Donald playing a tune on the fiddle; but most of all I see the

warm and welcoming smile of Isabel – the gentle woman, blessed mother.

She loved visitors and was never happier than when the house was full ,

all the children about, all their friends. The grandchildren started to come, thanks to

Sharon and Frank in the 70’s, and literally exploded in the 80’s, and everyone

married; and the Meagher house was bursting at the seams with babies. Isabel

enjoyed it all, and was always happy.

Eight years ago a stroke took Isabel’s speech. So ironic it was that a lady so

gifted with knowledge and who was known as a grand conversationalist was now

silent. However, her life continued. Her great and loyal family closed ranks around

her, cared for her at home around the clock, and with great faith and courage Isabel

found ways to communicate – one of them was her lovely smile. Life was good. She

returned to Cape Breton and was there on July 1st in Mabou to enjoy the milling

frolic.

Once again this lady put a positive spin on adversity. She simply accepted

it as a part of life and went on and made the best of things. In this way, and

so many other ways, Isabel was a tremendous example to others. She lived

with the downturns and then reached out to grab the next golden moment.

Her wake and funeral in Halifax were testaments to her life. A grand gathering

of old and new friends, tears of joy to see each other, tinged with the sadness

that we all knew it was the end of an era. Vestry street in Halifax would never quite

be the same again.

I had just left the Broad Cove Concert headed to Halifax, and felt like I walked back

into it again. A sea of familiar faces, Ian MacKinnon on the pipes, Dave MacIssac

playing great old Gaelic tunes on the fiddle, and a beautiful song sung by Isabel’s

granddaughter (Patsy’s child), Leah. A great send off for a lady who always knew

how things should be done.

Moments and memories shape our lives. My wonderful experience with the

Meagher clan has always been with me. I’d like to think that Isabel and her daughter

Kayanne helped me rediscover the beauty of my faith in God , the power of prayer;

and I’d like to think that I run my home here in Broad Cove with its swinging doors

and “just find a spot to curl up in” attitude because I was part of that great Cape

Breton home in Halifax where everyone was welcome.

Thank you Isabel Donald and clan for all of your love, your care, the wonderful

memories, and your shining example of kindness. I’m sure that it will live on

through all of you forever.

Rest well with your God, and those who loved you so deeply in life, will continue to

love you in death, and we will continue to learn from your tremendous example.

Crisi MacLellan

Broad Cove

Eulogy as delievered by Alex MacKinnon

Eileen phoned Geraldine and I at our home in Broad ove Saturday

past to tell us she had just recieved word from Halifax that her Mom had

taken a most serious turn. Sadly, this proved to be the beginning of the ending

scene of a courageous battle brought about eight years ago by a devastating stroke.

At that time and in a blinding flash, a teacher's wonderfully articulate, lovely voice was taken

from her never to be heard again. In a physical manner, never again could she offer

a cup of tea or step to a lovely fiddle tune, and yet through the years that followed

the Meagher family remained as one. A well-working single unit - so to speak

The family prevailed with ferocious determination - to make doubly sure Isabel's remaining

years would prove fruitful, that each day would become a day of happiness and dignity.

Remarkably, each day to the end became a rich bonus to be gathered in, as one would harvest

the most valued of crops in God's vineyard.

Over the past few days I've pondered what was it that determined our love for this great lady

The answer in my instance hit me like a sack of potatoes. I loved Isabel Meagher because she

reminded me - of my late mother.

The love of family and friends, the love of Gaelic and the culture of Inverness County,

her hospitality in her home, her communication skills despite her recent health problems

her charitable heart, her great Christian values and her love of her church. It follows therefore, that

Isabel was indeed a SUPERMOM.

Supermoms knowingly or perhaps in some instances, unknowingly, hone to a beautiful finish

those gifts that our creator lovingly presents to them. They in turn, dedicate their entire remaining years

continually passing on the fruits of those gifts to guide us to safe harbour.

Gifts? What kind of gifts? Well I have no doubt that Supermoms wonderously accept

the love of God as a gift. They accept creation, His Commandments, His Sacraments,

His Teachings, and the teachings of His Holy Church, as gifts.

But where else may I find gifts from God, truly honed by Supermoms, to his satisfaction?

I have a suggestion. When next you read your bible - turn to St. Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 5.

There you will find and read about our Lord's sermon on

the Mount. There you will note those golden gifts, our Lord's soul stirring Beautitudes.

And it is there that we shall find Isabel MacDonald Meagher.

Check it out.

I once asked a dear ole Priest - noted for his wisdom and holiness, why in so many

instances has the world gone amok. With a sad smile, he replied

- "Alex, we do not pray enough. When the going gets difficult - we are not laying

on the prayers - asking for God's help and mercy as we should".

To that end, anytime we visited Isabel, we always finished with a shared prayer.

A prayer to God, through Mary, that we have a paticular love for. A paticular

prayer that Isabel offered fervently during her lifetime, I dare say, tens of thousands

of times. Our last visit was no exception. Upon concluding our prayer, she looked

at me and with a twinkle in her eye, she squeezed my hand ever so gently.

And who knows? Could this dear lady for whom we have so much love been

telling us that we were sharing our prayer maybe for the last time?

Perhaps she was suggesting that our shared prayer be passed on to others.

A wonderful thought.

So, may we now pray together the prayer that Isabel loved so much in honour,

of our Most Blessed Virgin Mary - in memory of her faithful servant

- Isabel Margaret MacDonald Meagher.

Hail Mary, Etc.

Glory Be, Etc.

Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us

Dear Isabel in Heaven, pray for us. Amen