Lois Mary (Murchison) MacLeod

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lois Mary MacLeod on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Lois was 104, having been born on December 7, 1919, in Sydney to Isabelle (née Matheson, a WWI war bride from Inverness, Scotland) and Harper Murchison (WWI veteran from Cape Breton).

Lois is survived by her grandchildren, Nicole LaFosse Parker (Ian) and Justin Guy MacLeod LaFosse (Kathleen), her son-in-law, Guy LaFosse and by her nephews Robert (Sharon) and Doug Murchison (Jane). 
Along with her parents she was predeceased by her loving husband, Earl MacLeod, her daughter, Heather Lynn MacLeod LaFosse, her son, Graeme, her brother Jim Murchison and his wife Anna and her niece Lee Murchison.
Lois grew up on Park Street in Sydney, graduating from Sydney Academy, and prior to marrying worked at the YMCA. The friendships she made early in life were long lasting. Her core group of classmates from Sydney Academy formed a book club, known simply as “Club.” The Club met weekly for over 60 years, socializing, playing cards, “spilling the tea” and on occasion actually discussing books.

Lois would fondly share stories of her youth growing up in Sydney. She talked often about “the old days” when people were stylish and dressed for the occasion. The days when Sydney had two theatres and Charlotte Street was a bustling shopping district.
In 1946, Lois married Earl MacLeod. The couple moved to North Sydney where they began their family, and where Lois remained until Earl’s passing. Later in life Lois moved to Coxheath to be closer to family, living a short walk away from her daughter, brother, niece, and nephew’s homes. 
Lois was never afraid to speak her mind. In one instance after moving to Coxheath, she was conveying her displeasure and puzzlement at the lack of company popping by for a cup of tea in the afternoon – like ladies used to do when she was raising her children. Answering her own question, she stated,” You know when it all changed, when the women went to work after the war.” She embodied being a true stubborn Scot, who was sometimes misunderstood, but cared very deeply for her family.
Lois endured many losses far too early in life but faced that pain with a stoicism emblematic of her generation and upbringing. Her piece of heaven was at the family cottage on North Bay Beach in Ingonish. A place that she and Earl built with the help of family, especially her brother Jim. Over the decades, without fail, she spent every summer - sometimes into the fall – overlooking the beach, ocean and surrounding mountains.
Ingonish is where her heart truly resides. It’s a place where she would share her advice and opinions – whether you asked for them or not – and tell stories about her experiences from a long-lived life. Lois had a beautiful community of friends, “True Ingonishers” as she would call them, who regularly visited every summer. Their visits kept her mind sharp and something she always looked forward too. Additionally, in her later years her stays at the cottage would not have been possible without support from Billy, Audrey, Brenda, Mary and Joanna – she truly appreciated everything you did. 
Finally, to Sharon Murchison, the family will be eternally grateful for the kindness, love and support you gave Lois over these many years. You stepped in when others could not, no words can express our gratitude.
The family would like to thank the staff at Rideout House and the doctors and staff at the palliative care unit on 4E at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital for the kindness and wonderful care you provided to Lois.

Funeral service for Lois will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2024 in the  W.J. Dooley Funeral Home Chapel, 107 Pleasant Street, North Sydney with Rev. Thomas Whent officiating..  In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice Cape Breton would be greatly appreciated.  Online condolences may be sent to the family by leaving a message on the tribute wall of the obituary at www.wjdooley.com.

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