Mary’s long journey with frontotemporal dementia has ended peacefully on May 7, 2025, at age 69 at the Beach Grove Home in Charlottetown PE with her family close. Mary was born on March 29, 1956, into the Wood Islands family home of her parents John “Jack” MacKay and Emily MacKay (nee Compton), both now deceased. She is survived by her loving husband and soulmate David Gillis and their children Jonathan Gillis (Karen) and Carley Sugeng (Hubert), all of whom she was immensely proud. She adored her grandchildren Lucy Gillis and Ryan and Emily Sugeng. Mary is also survived by three loving sisters; Judy Goodwin (Eric), Jean Brown (Allen) and Anne Tweedie (Graeme), sister-in-law Anne Gillis Penney and brother-in-law Ralph Gillis (Lori), as well as a host of wonderful nieces and nephews and a growing cadre of beautiful grandnieces and grandnephews, all of whom she loved like her own. She is also survived by her loved mother-in-law Edna (Nicki) Gillis MacLeod.

 

Mary had a lightness of spirit that endeared her to all those she met. She was a loving and supportive mom who took time from her career to anchor our young family home. Aside from family time, she was happiest and at her best in the company of old and new friends and was often the co-instigator of all kinds of hilarity. A graduate of Holland College, Mary’s early career was in real estate property appraisal. Her caring nature led her to work for the Children’s Wish Foundation in PEI and into community volunteerism of all types. With her organizational and social skills, she worked in several positions and projects in the tourism, agriculture and hospitality sectors in PEI, and she had an extended stint on Parliament Hill in Ottawa from which she retired in 2013. Mary loved to travel, and she and David toured the world widely in retirement until her condition precluded it.

 

Mary received excellent care over the course of her illness. In particular, the family would like to recognize and thank the Bruyere Memory Clinic in Ottawa, the Alzheimer’s Society of PEI, the McGill Community Mental Health team, the Health PEI Home Care network, and the amazing staff at the Beach Grove Home in Charlottetown for their respective contributions to her care, all of which were provided with a wonderful balance of professionalism and empathy. Special thanks to the many friends and family who provided her and our family with loving support throughout. Mary was much loved and will be much missed.

 

Arrangements are entrusted to MacLean Funeral Home and cremation has taken place. Per her wishes, there will be no visitation, but an open Celebration of Life for Mary will be held in coming weeks. In her memory, please consider a donation to the upcoming (May 24) PEI Alzheimer’s Society IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's at this link: https://support.alzheimer.ca/site/TR?px=1698547&pg=personal&fr_id=5125 Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

The death occurred peacefully at the Kings County Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, of Arthur Jones of Pownal, age 92 years. Loving father of Hannah Jones and brother of Norma Hambly and Hilda Simpson. Predeceased by his parents Wilbur and Vera (Hyde) Jones, and brothers-in-law Robert Hambly, Kimball Acorn, and Merrill Simpson.

 

Resting at MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel. Funeral Sunday from St. Andrew’s United Church, Vernon Bridge at 1:30 p.m. Interment in Pownal Cemetery. If so desired, memorial donations may be made directly to the Pownal Cemetery. Visiting hours Saturday from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The Mizpah Lodge No. 17 Eldon will hold a Masonic memorial service at the funeral home on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

 

Donations may be made directly to:

 

Pownal Cemetery

Contact: Gordon Furness, Treasurer

Please make cheques payable to:

St. Andrew's United Church

7679 Trans Canada Highway

Vernon Bridge, PE C0A 2E0

It is with deep sadness we announce the passing on Sunday, May 4, 2025 of Wallace “Wally” Edison Jardine Smith of Charlottetown, formerly of Pownal, age 89 years. Beloved husband of 68 years of Marlene “Maggie” (nee Balderston), loving father of Gary (Vickie), Mark (Martha), and Philip (Megan), grandfather of Dennis, Amanda, Victoria, Trinity, and Gabriel, and great-grandfather of Grace and Blake. Also survived by sister Linda Drake, sister-in-law Marjorie Balderston, and nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents Edison and Florence (MacDougall) Smith, parents-in-law Earl and Edna Balderston, and brothers-in-law Roger Balderston and Doug Drake.

 

Resting at MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel. Funeral Friday from Zion Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. For those wishing to attend virtually, the service will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfe1uKAV7z4 Interment later in Calvin Presbyterian Cemetery, Mermaid. No visitation by personal request. If so desired, memorial donations may be made directly to Calvin Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

 

Donations may be made directly to:

 

Calvin Presbyterian Church Cemetery

Contact: Scott MacDonald

18 Swallow Dr

Stratford, PE C1B 4M2

Ph: 902-393-4999

The death occurred at Andrews of Stratford on Sunday, April 27, 2025, of Grace Vivian Nicholson (nee Diamond) in her 104th year. She is survived by her three children: Chris (Melissa Raymond), Martha (Bruce Stewart), and Margaret “Margie” (Richard Kays), grandchildren Jordan (Jordana), Vanessa (Brandon), David (Sophie), Laura (Nick), Rachel (Ronnie), Matthew (Grace) and her 4 great-grandchildren Ayla, Keith, Magnolia and Henry. Predeceased by her husband, The Honourable Chief Justice John Paton Nicholson and many relatives and friends.

 

The family would like to thank the staff at Andrews for the care and compassion they have shown over the past number of years.

 

Resting at MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel from where the service will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. For those wishing to attend virtually, the service will be live-streamed at https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=e3272ee0-5b24-4d31-988f-fdc3794fadbf Interment in Peoples Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made directly to the Alzheimer Society of PEI or a charity of choice. Visiting hours Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

 

Donations may be made directly to:

 

Alzheimer Society of Prince Edward Island

166 Fitzroy Street

Charlottetown, PE C1A 1S1

The death occurred peacefully at the Garden Home on Sunday, April 20, 2025, of William Anthony “Billy” Burns of Charlottetown, age 88 years. Beloved father of Steven and brother of Fred and Austin. Fondly remembered by nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents John and Minnie (Clybourne) Burns and Sister Edna Leclair.

 

Resting at MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel. A graveside service will be held on Monday at 3:00 p.m. in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Charlottetown. Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

The death occurred peacefully at Whisperwood Villa on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, with family by his side, of Lawson Drake of Meadow Bank, age 95 years. Beloved husband of 68 years to Eileen (nee Jay), father of John (Sandra McConkey) and Carolyn (Garth Hurley), Gran of Carrie (Justin Barkhouse) and Katherine (James Mallard), and great-grandfather of Thea. Fondly remembered by his siblings-in-law Allison (Marg) Jay, Muriel Jay Matheson, Roddie MacLean, Cynthia (Mearl) Crane, and Allan (Shirley) Jay and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and their families. Predeceased by his parents Lemuel and Carrie (nee MacLaren) Drake, siblings Stewart (Ethel), Vernon (Zelda and Helen) and infant twin sisters Helen and Marion, siblings-in-law Connie Thurber, Angus Matheson, and Miriam MacLean.

 

Resting at MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel. Funeral Thursday from West River United Church, Cornwall at 2:00 p.m. Interment later in the church cemetery. If so desired, memorial donations may be made directly to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation or Island Nature Trust. Visiting hours Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

 

Donations may be made directly to:

 

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation

PO Box 6600

Charlottetown, PE C1A 8T5

Ph: 902-894-2425

 

Island Nature Trust

PO Box 265

Charlottetown, PE C1A 7K4

 

UPEI saddened by passing of Founder and retired faculty member Dr. Lawson Drake

 

The University of Prince Edward Island is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Lawson Drake, UPEI Founder, former dean of science, retired professor and founding chair of the Department of Biology, and Prince of Wales College alumnus on April 23, 2025, in Charlottetown. The flags in front of the Kelley Memorial Building have been lowered to half-mast in his memory.

 

Dr. Drake was raised in and was a long-time resident of Meadowbank, PEI. While studying at Prince of Wales College in 1947, he was chosen as one of twenty-five sea cadets to represent Canada on a visit to the United Kingdom as guests of the Navy League and the British Admiralty. They crossed the Atlantic on HMCS Warrior and spent several weeks abroad.

 

Dr. Drake graduated from PWC in 1948 and from McGill University (Macdonald College) in 1950. In 1959, he received his master’s degree from Cornell University and returned to PWC where he taught biology until 1966. From 1963 to 1966, his teaching duties included teaching anatomy and physiology to students in the Prince Edward Island Hospital School of Nursing. After receiving his PhD from Dalhousie University in 1969, he became the first chair of the UPEI Department of Biology. Dr. Drake served as dean of the Faculty of Science from 1985 to 1991; as dean, he chaired the Nursing Education Transition Committee whose work established the School of Nursing at UPEI. He was also a staunch supporter of the Atlantic Veterinary College and helped mentor the founding faculty. He retired in 1994.

 

Dr. Drake also contributed to his community as an author, historian, and conservationist, and was known for weaving references to history, music, literature, and culture into his lectures, sparking a curiosity about other disciplines among his students. He was an avid supporter of genealogy and traditional Scottish fiddle music.

 

In retirement, Dr. Drake was an active member of the Association of Retired UPEI Employees, attended many University events, and along with his wife Eileen, created the Eileen and Lawson Drake Prize in Pediatric Nursing.

 

He was named a UPEI Founder in 2004 and was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty’s Mentor Award in 2016.

 

UPEI sends its deepest condolences to Dr. Drake’s wife Eileen, family, friends, and colleagues.

 

The University of Prince Edward Island is located on the unceded and ancestral lands of the Mi’kmaw people, known to them as Epekwitk, a traditional district in the territory of Mi'kma'ki.

Rick passed away peacefully with family by his side at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in his 90th year. Born in Parkdale, he was the son of the late Clyde and Marion (nee Stead) Bell. Survived by his sisters Lorraine Emery, Rena (Dale) Phillips and Janet (Roger) Yeo, brothers Roy (Pam), Norman (Lorraine) and Donnie (Judy). Predeceased by brothers Stephen and Harold, sister Norma (Robert) Bradley and brother-in-law Monty Emery.

 

Resting at MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel. A graveside service will be conducted by The Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 1. No visiting hours or service by personal request. Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

With great sadness we announce the sudden passing of Pamela Lilian Hatton Compton of Stratford, formerly Bangor, PEI on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. She was two weeks shy of 82.

 

Pamela is survived by Ralph, her husband of 63 years, and their children Valerie, Ben (Judy) and Diana (Chris) and beloved grandchildren Jesse, Liam and Alexandra (Chase). She will be dearly missed by her siblings Janet Martindale (Marty), Margaret Kelly, Beverly Murphy (Barry), Karen Robbins (James), Christine Compton, John Hatton (Paul MacPhail) and Shelia Keeping (Lloyd) and sisters-in-law Collette Hatton, Pam MacKenzie, Ada Compton, Isabel Dingwell, Ruth Brouwer, Hope Lutz (Larry), Anne Compton, brother-in-law David Compton, as well as many, many nieces and nephews in the Hatton and Compton families. She was predeceased by her loving parents Bill and Mavis Hatton and her brothers Winston, Paul and Kent (in infancy) and brothers-in-law John Compton and Tony Kelly and in-laws Libbie MacKenzie, Simon Compton, Henry Compton, and Sophie MacLaren Clarke.

 

Pamela was born in Nottingham, England and came to Canada aboard the Queen Mary in 1946. She grew up in Lorne Valley, PEI where she walked to school and learned to drive in a VW Bug before attending Marvel Hairdressing School in Toronto. She returned to PEI to open Pamela’s Beauty Salon in Morell. She was a successful entrepreneur before shifting her focus to being a wife, mother and homemaker in Bangor while Compton Brothers Potatoes was being established. Her second career was at Island Packaging, keeping the business organized. There was nothing Pamela couldn’t do or figure out. From running a business, to sewing to home décor, she was the go-to expert for many things. Her gardens at both of her homes were spectacular and award-winning. She loved her family, golf, roses, and winning at scrabble.

 

We’d like to express our deepest gratitude to Dr. Mike Saunders and the Unit 7 nurses at the QEH for their excellent care and kindness and to Dr. Dawn Shea for her many years of care.

 

Resting at MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel. A private family service will take place, followed by interment in the Bangor Cemetery. Donations in memory of Pamela may be made directly to the Bangor Cemetery (bangorcemeterypei@gmail.com) or a charity of your choice. There will be no visitation by personal request. Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

 

Donations may be made directly to:

 

Bangor Cemetery

Contact: Grant Compton

Ph: 902-628-9563

bangorcemeterypei@gmail.com

Florence Louise Hyndman, née Douglas (“Flo” to all who knew and loved her), passed away peacefully at The Mount Continuing Care Community in Charlottetown, PEI, on the 14th of April 2025, after a long and courageous journey with vascular dementia. She was 87.

 

Flo was the beloved wife of Robert “Bob” Harris Hyndman for 66 years, a partnership that began as teenage sweethearts. She was a cherished mother to Rob (Vicky), Naida (Blair), and Sarah (Simon), and a proud, loving Nana to her adoring grandchildren: Cameron, Michael, Olivia, Ben, Kate and Robbie. She was predeceased by her parents, Howard Woodrow Douglas and Viola (née Farquharson), her brother Nelson Howard Francis Douglas, with whom she shared a special lifelong bond, and her infant grandson, Samuel Harris Bazan Hyndman.

 

Flo was quick-witted, fiercely intelligent, generous and kind. She will be missed beyond measure.

 

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Flo’s life will be held this summer at the family cottage in Bay Fortune, PEI — one of her most treasured places.

 

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the Sisters of St. Martha and the incredible caregiving staff at The Mount in Charlottetown for their compassion and care.

 

Arrangements entrusted to MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

At 3:10am on April 10, 2025, Maureen Heather Leunes (nee Neville) departed on her last flight at the age of 79. As she climbs above the clouds to find her place amongst the stars, she leaves behind the legacy of a remarkable life jam-packed with adventures, travels, an entrepreneurial legacy, deep family bonds, rich friendships, and so many dogs her family had to do a triple count for this obituary.

 

Born September 28, 1945, in Montreal, QC to John and Francis Neville, Maureen’s first big adventure began during Expo 67. While walking through the revolving doors of a hotel, she locked eyes with a young American named Peter Leunes. For the next eight years, Maureen and Peter crisscrossed the US and Mexico in search of sun, adventure, and the next thing they could sell to make ends meet.

 

They married in 1973. Two years later, on a snowy day in June 1975, they took the ferry to their new home, Prince Edward Island. After a few failed attempts to launch viable businesses, including a scallop trawler gift shop, they finally landed on a winning formula - leather-covered glasses.

 

Tannereye was born and Maureen quickly stepped into the role she was born for as vice president and chief strategist. The orders came flying through the door and soon, Maureen and Peter were jetting around the world, building Tannereye into a thriving business with over 200 employees. At the same time, Maureen’s greatest wish - to be a mother - was granted with the arrival of their son, Luke, in 1977 and daughter, Stacey, in 1982.

 

In 1995, the doors of Tannereye closed for the last time following Peter’s tragic death in an automobile accident. The pages of Maureen’s story were turning again.

 

Three years later, Maureen found love again with Frank Hale, and they were married in 1998. Over the next 27 years, she continued to live life to the fullest - volunteering, raising Portuguese Waterdogs, traveling, listening to her favourite music, creating a beautiful backyard oasis in Brighton, enjoying her many friendships, taking scenic drives with Frank, and making sure her adult children came over for dinner regularly.

 

As fascinating as the chapters of Maureen’s life are, they cannot come close to capturing the essence of her character. Formidable, intelligent, exceedingly generous, humble, kind, sensitive, and driven by a strong moral compass, she was a one-of-a-kind woman who embraced every chapter of her incredible life with an indomitable spirit.

 

Her memory will live on deep in the hearts of all those that knew and loved her, including her beloved husband, Frank Hale; son, Luke (Shannon Courtney), daughter, Stacey (Craig Bugden); godson, Marco Leblanc; many dear friends; her sweet dog, Josie; and her granddogs, Fern and Olive. She joins those who have already found their place amongst the stars - John, Francis, Peter, Barbara, Londa, Paka, Jeb, Jasper, Bella, Andy, and Sailor.

 

A celebration of Maureen’s life will take place at the Trailside Cafe in Charlottetown on Saturday, April 19th from 11:00 am to 1.30 pm - all are welcome to join for a short while or the duration. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made directly to the PEI Humane Society in Maureen's name.

 

Donations may be made directly to:

 

PEI Humane Society

Box 20022

Charlottetown, PE C1A 9E3

Ph: 902-892-1190