MOUNT WILLIAM - With heavy hearts we announce the passing of a very special man, Clarence Maxwell "Clarrie" MacDonald, Mount William, who passed away Saturday, September 4th at 9:35 PM in Aberdeen Hospital Palliative Care Unit, with his loved ones gathered around him, after a short but courageous battle with esophageal cancer. He has fought the good fight and leaves this world a better place for his time here. Clarrie goes to be with his Saviour in his eternal home. Born on Park Street, Westville, in his Grandmother's home, he was the third child of seven children born to the late Ivan Roderick and Jessie Mabel (MacKenzie) MacDonald. Clarrie grew up in Priestville. After high school he attended Nova Scotia Technical Institute and got his degree in Electrical Technology. Prior to retirement in 2005, Clarrie was employed as an electrician for 37 years with Northern Pulp, Abercrombie. He was a member of the Communications, Energy and Paper Workers Union, Local 440, where he served as Financial Officer. Clarrie was a member of Holy Name Parish, Westville and attended St. Peter's Parish, Tracadie during the summer months. He was everything to his family - a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend. On October 18, 1969, he married the love of his life, Betty, and together they raised four wonderful sons that he considered his greatest accomplishments. Nothing was too much of a sacrifice for his family. He made many trips to the hockey rink over the years and never complained even when he had just come off back shift. He good naturedly put up with his wife's obsession with all things Christmas and raved about her cooking even in the early years when it really wasn't that great. Mind you, he did suggest that maybe she might like to learn how to cook from his Mom. Besides family times at the cottage in Tracadie (where he was an avid gardener) and trips down south with his wife and sister and brother-in-law, Judy and JC Clark, he loved to attend dance recitals, hockey, football games, graduations, school plays that his children and grandchildren took part in and was always the very proud father and grandfather believing they were the best performers there, no matter what the reality was. His love was always unconditional and we were so very blessed to have had him in our life. He truly is irreplaceable. Left to mourn and treasure his memory are his wife of 52 years, Betty; sons, Aaron (Sherri), Cole Harbour; Troy, Trenton; Craig (Jasmine), Montreal, Que.; Ryan (Amy), Eastern Passage; grandchildren, Olivia, Alicia, and Liam MacDonald, Carver and Caiden MacDougall-Cameron; sister, Wendy (Frank) McCulloch, Little Harbour; brother, Raymond MacDonald, Coalburn; sisters-inlaw, Diane Johnson, Judy (JC) Clark, Chrissy Desmond, Janet (Mike) Dickson, Cathy MacDonald, Evie Pound; brothers-in-law, Donnie Pound, Joe (Betty Lou) Pound, Bernie Pound, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by sisters, Linda Joyce MacDonald in infancy and Shirley Jean Pellerine; brothers, Roddie MacDonald and Roger MacDonald, sister-in-law, Debbie MacDonald; brothers-in-law, Stephen Pound, Malcolm Pellerine and Dave MacDonald; in-laws, John and Jerry (DeViller) Pound. Clarrie’s family would like to thank the Doctors and Nurses at the QEII Cancer Unit, Dr. O'Sullivan, Aberdeen Hospital and Dr. Sree, Westville Medical Center for their compassionate care and all those associated with the VON and Palliative Care from both Pictou County and Antigonish Branches, who assisted us to keep Clarrie at home for as long as possible, before he was transferred to the Aberdeen Hospital, Palliative Unit where the wonderful care continued. In the moments he was aware, he constantly told us and them how good they were to him. We cannot express adequately how grateful we are to all those who made his final months easier for him and his family. Special thanks to Dr. Anne Kwasnik-Krawczyk, Rachel MacDonald and Ardiss Sewell, with Aberdeen Hospital Palliative Care and Dr. Mike MacKenzie, Heather Branden and Valerie MacDonald from the Antigonish Palliative care team. We are forever grateful for the kind and compassionate care you provided to enable Clarrie to remain at home where he wanted to be. Special thanks to Father Peter MacDonald, Father John Barry and Angie Connors for their spiritual care. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Holy Name Parish, Westville with Father Peter J. MacDonald presiding. Interment will be in Holy Name Cemetery. If desired, donations may be made in Clarrie's memory to the Aberdeen Palliative Care Society, St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Foundation Palliative Care, Pictou County and Antigonish County Victorian Order of Nurses, Holy Name Parish, Westville or St. Peter’s Parish, Tracadie. (Please click on the underline to donate online.) Written by his loving family. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Clarence Maxwell "Clarrie" MacDonald, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.