ANTIGONISH – Rev. B. Gerard “Gerry” MacInnis, 82, Antigonish, died Sunday, April 9, 2017 in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish surrounded by his sister Mabel and sisters from the Congregation of St. Marthas. Born on June 5, 1934 in Antigonish, he was a son of the late Archibald Donald and Jennie Mae (MacDonald) MacInnis. Father MacInnis lived in Mulgrave until 1938 when his father, who was employed with the CNR, was transferred to Stellarton in 1938. He resided in Stellarton until the death of his father in 1975. Father MacInnis attended St. Bridgets School and Our Lady of Lourdes School, Stellarton, graduating from St. John’s Academy, New Glasgow. In 1951, he enrolled in St. F.X. University for one year and then transferred to St. Josephs Seminary, Edmonton and studied for the Archdiocese of Edmonton. Father MacInnis was ordained on May 23, 1959 by Bishop John R. MacDonald in Antigonish. On returning to Alberta, he was assigned to Camrose, Red Deer, Wetaskiwin and St. Pius X, Edmonton. In 1965, he was appointed parish priest of Consort, Alta., at which time his sister Mabel moved west to be his domestic engineer. She was a stalwart servant in the work of Christ. In 1968, Father was assigned to Stoney Plains, Alta and in 1974 to Fort Saskatchewan as Chaplain of the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Institute and as parish priest. In 1983, he was appointed parish priest of Wainwright, Alta. and in 1990 was appointed back to Wetaskiwin. In 1994, Father returned to Nova Scotia and spent five years at Notre Dame parish in Yarmouth. Retirement came in 1999 and he and his sister moved to Arisaig. In 2008, they moved to Antigonish. Following the death of Father Neil MacKenna, he volunteered to become the chaplain for the Sisters of St. Martha at Bethany. He enjoyed serving the Sisters, the medical community, social work, education and domestic services. Father deeply appreciated the Sisters for their hospitality and goodness. Throughout “retirement” he remained active doing church work and assisting throughout northern Nova Scotia until August 2016 when ill health forced him to retire fully. Surviving are his sister, Mabel MacInnis, Antigonish; sister-in-law, Helen MacInnis, Stellarton; niece, Ronda; nephew, Ted. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by sister, Mary MacNeil; brothers, Ronald and Donald; nephews, Donald Jr., Gregory and Roderick. Visitation 1-1:50 p.m. Wednesday, April 12 in Sisters of St. Martha Bethany Chapel, Antigonish from where Mass of Christian Burial will be held 2 p.m. with Bishop Brian Dunn presiding assisted by Father Leo Cordeau, Father Donald Boudreau and the priests of the diocese. Private interment will be in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Stellarton. No flowers please, due to allergies. Donations may be made in Father MacInnis’ memory to St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Foundation “The Time is NOW!” Campaign. (Please click to donate.) To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Rev. B. Gerard MacInnis, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.