Obituary of Anne Dawson Melanson

Anne Dawson (MacKenzie) Melanson, 74, New Glasgow, passed away Saturday, May 5, 2024.

Born in Amherst, she was the daughter of Donald Chalmers MacKenzie and Georgena Marcia (Ross) Neima. Anne worked for two years as an Executive Secretary in Halifax for Defence Construction (1951) Ltd. before raising three children later in life. She was a 25-year employee of Scott Maritimes Ltd., Kimberly Clark Nova Scotia and retired from Neenah Paper Ltd. A graduate of St. F.X. University she taught briefly with the St. FX Extension Department and for the Pictou Co. Education Department at NSCC, Stellarton Campus. After retirement, Anne worked for the Pictou County Health Authority for 14 yrs. She was a past member of the Canadian Kennel Club, the Canadian Yorkshire Terrier Association, Abercrombie Golf Club, Bluenose Curling Club, and a past volunteer for the Crohn's & Colitis Association. She was a member of St. John's Roman Catholic Church and a past member of the Catholic Women's League. Anne also attended the Fisheries' School evening classes in Pictou in the 1990's and held her Captain's papers with the Department of Transport for five years. She was also active in sports in high school. Anne will always be remembered for her specialized knitting, soap making, baking, gardening and her love of the Gaelic language and music.

She is survived by her daughter, Victoria DiBiaso (Peter DiBiaso), Paris, France; sons, Graham (Erin Kimmel), New York; Mark, Pugwash; special friend, Dr. Winston Makhan; sister, Heather Abdulaziz, Halifax; step-sister, Dianne Wagg, New Glasgow; step-brother, Gordon (Kathy) Waxl, Barrie, Ont.; granddaughters, Margaery Kimmel and Allie DiBiaso; grandson, Andrew DiBiaso; nephew, Hakim Abdulaziz; aunt, Joyce MacKnight, New Glasgow;  several cousins, Christine MacCuish and Carrie Lin MacKenzie.

She was predeceased by her mother, Georgena (Ross-MacKenzie) Neima; father, Donald MacKenzie; stepfather, Michael Neima; stepmother, Marianne Disterheft; brother, Donald MacKenzie; brothers-in-law, Amer Abdulaziz and Dr. Ray Wagg.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 in St. John the Baptist   Roman Catholic Church, New Glasgow with Father Thomas A. MacNeil presiding. Interment will be in Heatherdale Memorial Gardens.

Donations may be made in memory of Anne to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of  Canada, Maritime Region, Pictou County Palliative Care Society, Pictou County Food Bank East or Pictou County SPCA.

"In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still; in our hearts, you hold a place, no one else will ever fill."