Obituary of Johnena Elizabeth MacIntyre
Johnena "Gena" Elizabeth MacIntyre (MacInnis) passed away on December 23rd, 2024, peacefully with family by her side. Born on October 12 1943, she was the daughter of the late Hugh and Sadie (MacIssac) MacInnis.
Gena grew up in Port Hood Nova Scotia, moving to Halifax at the age of 16 where she found work with Maritime Tel & Tel (MT&T). An outstanding athlete, while with MT&T she was a star member of the company’s female hockey team.
At the age of twenty Gena married Linden MacIntyre with whom she had four children. Following their divorce, they continued a close and loving friendship. In the late 1970s Gena met Janice Delaney. The two became fast friends and ultimately their relationship evolved into a life-long, loving partnership.
After a stretch as a stay-at-home-mom, in 1978 Gena returned to her career including with the Dartmouth School Board, the Sisters of Charity Mount Saint Vincent Motherhouse, and finally retiring in the employ of Wendy Lill, NDP Member of Parliament for Dartmouth.
A woman of high intelligence, insatiable curiosity, a strong work ethic, and endless compassion, Gena excelled at all she took on. The walls of many homes are adorned with her nature photography. While with the Sisters of Charity, she championed workers’ rights and was instrumental in the formation of a workers’ association for the employees of Mount Saint Vincent Motherhouse. A fierce Mama Bear to her four biological children, one bonus daughter, and a dozen more she took under her wing, the friend of one of her children nicknamed her “The Iron Maiden of Dartmouth”.
Family was everything to Gena. In her final days, her greatest sadness was thoughts of leaving her children and siblings behind. She will be forever missed and lovingly remembered by her ex-husband, Linden MacIntyre; her five children - Ellen MacIntyre (Troy Stewart), Darrow MacIntyre, Bernadette Murdock, Daniel MacIntyre (Denise), and Maggie MacIntyre (Nigel Eyre); seven grandchildren - Tess, Liam, Tommy, Skai, Maria, Jesse, and Jacob; her five surviving siblings - Anne MacDonald (Jackie Dan J.), Marie Campbell (Carmen), Brian MacInnis (Sharon MacDonald), Rosalie MacNeil (Sandy), and Louise MacNeil (Neil); and forty-one nieces and nephews.
She was pre-deceased by her parents, Hughie and Sadie (nee MacIsaac) MacInnis; life partner Janice Delaney; sisters Tootsie MacDonald, Ellen Macdonald, and Margie MacInnis; and brother Kevin MacInnis.
The family wish to thank the many people who supported them and Gena through her illness. In particular we are grateful to her Palliative Care team, Continuing Care team, the Red Cross, and the staff of the Dartmouth General Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit 5 West. A Celebration of Life will be organized and communicated in the coming weeks.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Canadian Cancer Society or The Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation.Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr., Coldbrook, NS, B4R 1B9 (902-679-2822).
