Henrietta "Etta" (Clements) MacKinnon

It is with broken hearts we announce the passing of our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and dear friend Henrietta (“Etta”) MacKinnon on Saturday March 15, 2025, at the Northside General Hospital in North Sydney. Etta was born in Sydney on February 28, 1949, to the late Henry and Marguerite (Campbell) Clements. Before her retirement she was employed as a CNA at The Cape Breton Hospital, The Cove, Cape Breton Addiction Centre, and Seaview Manor. She gave selflessly and unconditionally. Her warm smile and sense of fun will be greatly missed. Etta enjoyed many friendships and will be remembered most as a kind, generous, spiritual and unassuming person who accepted life’s challenges without complaint and received much enjoyment from the simplest of pleasures. She delighted in road trips with her sisters to visit family and friends. Etta would drive down roads less travelled for the adventure just to see where it would lead. She loved summers in Inverness, her flower gardens, a good hand of crib, storytelling, and teaching us her expected and accepted social behaviors we referred to as “Ettaquette”. If you ever needed advice, your spirits lifted, to be consoled, or even the proverbial kick in the behind, you went to Etta. She loved company and gathering with friends and family. Her home was always open whether you were family, friend, friend of a friend, or just someone passing through. You always felt welcomed. She is survived by her son Malcolm MacCormack, grandchildren Amanda Jane and Sylvia Anne, her sisters Marlene (Allan) Bragg, and Louise Smiley, in-laws Michael MacKinnon, Mary Frances MacKinnon, and John (Beverly) MacKinnon. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, and cousins including her special niece and Goddaughter Kimberley Collins and her son Cameron, special nephew Allie Bragg, as well as many dear friends from near and far: Abby, Anna, Carol, David, Edith, Gary, Heather, Jack, Jen, Kevin, Patricia, Rollie, to name just a few. She was predeceased by the love of her life and best friend; her husband Stephen MacKinnon, parents, sister Sheila Swinnen, brothers-in-law Ken Smiley, Chris Swinnen, and Adrian MacKinnon. In life and in her passing, Etta was always surrounded by love and will be missed dearly. Special thanks to the staff of the Northside General, VON, Cape Breton County Homemakers, and Meals On Wheels. Visitation will be held 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2025 in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant Street, North Sydney. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 21, 2025, in the Funeral Home Chapel with Father Doug MacDonald officiating. A reception will follow the funeral at the North Sydney Legion, Archibald Avenue, North Sydney. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Etta may be made to a charity of choice.

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