Beloved mother of Peter (Caron Prins) and Ellen (Frank McCloskey), Doris Williams (MacKinnon) passed away on Friday, September 20, 2024 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after a brief illness; she was 96 years old.

 

Doris was born in Clyde River, the fourth of five children to Gordon and Lulu MacKinnon. While always fondly recalling life on the family farm, Doris spent most of her days in Charlottetown, where she moved at age 18 and where she eventually met and fell in love with E. Paul Williams. After marrying in 1950, Doris and Paul established their life together. Her talent as an accomplished seamstress gave her great pleasure, along with the opportunity to work from home while raising her family. When Peter and Ellen were in their late teens, she went to work for David Campbell at City Drug, which would become Shoppers Drug Mart, eventually retiring in her mid-sixties.

 

Doris and Paul enjoyed social events in Charlottetown with their many wonderful friends and acquaintances, including those hosted at home on Skyview Drive, at the cottage in Lewis Point, or at the Charlottetown Yacht Club, various other societies, and at their church, Zion Presbyterian. She was a loving and devoted mother, caring friend, and dedicated volunteer with Zion Presbyterian, Girl Guides of Canada, Friends of the Confederation Centre Library, Meals on Wheels, and Beaconsfield Historic House.

 

While she was many wonderful and talented things, she would become widely known to many of all ages as the infamous ‘Nannu’; grandmother to Robert McCloskey (Megan Nelson), Laura Cameron (Craig), and Claire McCloskey (Ben Jones), and great-grandmother to Wesley Cameron. Her devotion to her grandchildren was evident to all who knew her, and they were the light of her life, just as she was to them.

 

After Paul passed in 1990, Doris moved to Villa Avenue where her gardens were the talk of the block. Her love for art and music shone during this time, and she spent many afternoons painting in her sunporch or listening to classical music in the backyard. Brighton was home for many years before moving to Harbourside, where from her balcony she enjoyed watching the world sail by, and of course keeping a close eye on goings on at the Club! In her final years, she returned home to Clyde River and received heartfelt care from the wonderful staff at Burnside Community Care, for whom her family is indebted in gratitude.

 

Doris leaves us as the last remaining child of Gordon and Lulu, having been predeceased by her parents, brothers Warren (Neila), of Clyde River, PE, Garfield (Hilda), of Norwood, MA, and sisters Thelma Singleton (Bill), of Wakefield, MA, and Phyillis MacDonald (Oliver), of Churchill, PE.

 

Resting at MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel. There will be no visitation by family request. A private interment will be held at a later date in the Burnside Presbyterian Cemetery. Donations may be made directly to Burnside Presbyterian Cemetery or the QEH Foundation. Messages and memories of Doris may be shared at www.macleanfh.com

 

Nannu, we will miss your laugh and your wit, your love and your hugs, and we will never forget the joy you brought to our lives.

 

Burnside Presbyterian Cemetery

746 Clyde River Road - Rte 247

Clyde River, PE C0A 1H1

 

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation

PO Box 6600

Charlottetown, PE C1A 8T5