Laurnice Gertrude (MacNeil) MacLeod

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Laurnice Gertrude (MacNeil) MacLeod, on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at Harbourstone Enhanced Care, from Alzheimer’s disease, at the age of 78.

Laurnice was born on December 4, 1946, in North Sydney, to Hector and Rose MacNeil. She is survived by her husband, Roy “Dink” MacLeod, sons, Ian (Christine Anstey) and Kyle, and sister, Pauline Taylor. Besides her parents, Laurnice was predeceased by her brother Leonard MacNeil.

In her youth Laurnice was an avid skater. She met her husband Dink at the Sydney Forum due to a case of mistaken identity. They were married nine years, and a bowl of spaghetti, later. Laurnice began her career as a hairdresser straight out of school. She started at an established salon, but after taking time off due to medical complications, Laurnice started her own business which let her set her own hours and work from home.

Laurnice moved to Dartmouth in 2000 with her husband and sons. While in Cole Harbour she started a small in-home daycare, where she met life-long friends Paul and Sandra Derby. She was proud to watch the Derby girls, Sarah and Kaylee, grow and be their bonus grandmother.

Laurnice didn’t like the cold, but loved winter sports and could often be seen supporting her favourite hockey teams. Prior to moving to Cole Harbour, the family had season tickets to the Screaming Eagles and Cape Breton Oilers. She became a fan of the Vegas Golden Knights because of former Screaming Eagles goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

Always up for a good time, Laurnice had a ready laugh, an excellent sense of humor, and a love of babies and kids that could not be denied. She adored being surrounded by friends and family and never had a better time than at the cabin parties. Laurnice could always be counted on to be in the thick of it, and wouldn’t think twice about dressing up in the zaniest costumes possible. She will be missed by friends and relatives alike, including her many skating friends and cabin cousins.

Her family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at the Fisherman’s Cove ward of Harbourstone Enhanced Care, the Alzheimer’s Society, and caregiver Judy Sullivan. Our immeasurable gratitude goes to caregiver Cindy Scovet without whom the last year would have been impossible.

The visitation and Funeral Mass is postponed at this time. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. Online condolences can be left for the family on the tribute wall of the obituary.

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