Obituaries
John Wendell Norman Gray
GRAY, John Wendell Norman, 54, born and raised in Pugwash, passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Milford Haven Home for Special Care, Guysborough, with his daughter, Jenn and son-in-law, Andrew, by his side. He was a son of the late Norman Gray and Beatrice Langille. John loved art, family, friends and weed. He was a carpenter for many years. He is survived by his ex-wife, Theresa; son, Wendell (Taheshia) Gray; daughters, Mary (Courtney) Gray, Jennifer Gray (Andrew Hendsbee); grandchildren, Christian MacNeill, Blaze Hendsbee; brother, David; sisters, Kim (Roy), Liz (Gerard), Tammy; nieces and nephews, Jonathan Smiley, Joseph Smiley, Chrissy Smiley, Melissa Smiley, Blaze Titus. He was predeceased by his mother and father, Beatrice Langille and Norman Gray. Memorial donations may be made to the Huntington’s Society of Canada, 20 Erb Street West, Suite 801, Waterloo, ON, N2L 1T2, or email: info@huntingtonsociety.ca. No funeral service by request. Online condolences may be made at www.gwgiffin.com.
Mary Claire MacLellan
1931 – 2026
MacLellan, Mary Claire, 94, of Antigonish passed away on April 10, 2026, in the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home in Antigonish.
Born on June 3, 1931 in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, and raised in Needham, Massachusetts, she was the older daughter of George and Florence (Gerard) Gildersleeve.
She attended Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, graduating in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts, and in 1971 with a Bachelor of Education. Prior to her marriage, she taught school in Gardner, Massachusetts.
Mary met her husband, Jack, while they were students at StFX, and they were married two days after Christmas in 1954. After living in New Brunswick and Ontario, they settled in Antigonish in 1963.
Mary’s love of beauty was best seen in her home decor and the beautiful gardens she cultivated over the years. She was an avid reader, with F. Scott Fitzgerald being one of her favourite authors.
She is survived by her daughter, Joan, Montreal; sons, George (Mamie), Spruce Grove, Alberta; John, Doctors Brook; and Michael (Beverly), St. Andrews; grandsons, Jack (Kathleen) and Angus; and great grandson, James.
Predeceased by her husband, Jack; and sister, Joan Nunn.
There was no visitation. A public funeral will be held Wednesday, April 13, in C.L. Curry Funeral Home, at 10 a.m., with Fr. Danny MacLennan presiding. Burial will be in St. Ninian Cemetery.
In Memoriam, donations to the St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Foundation, the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home Foundation, or to the VON appreciated.
Special thank you to the nursing and support staff at the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home for the kind and compassionate care given to Mary over the past two years.
Online condolences: www.clcurry.com
James Edward “Jimmy” Wallace
James Edward “Jimmy” Wallace, born May 19, 1956, passed away on April 6, 2026, at Eastern Memorial Hospital, Canso, surrounded by family.
Jimmy was a man who lived life on his own terms — full of stories, strong will, and a personality that left an impression wherever he went. In his early years, he loved hunting and spending time outdoors, often alongside his friend, Marty, and Uncle Leonard. Though he claimed to love it, he rarely came home with any game — a detail he likely would have laughed about himself. In the early 1990s, he developed a passion for photography, especially capturing ships — often with stories as unforgettable as the moments themselves.
He spent over 45 years on the high seas, earning his fishing master 3rd class and making many memories and lasting friendships. He was also quietly and uniquely intelligent, able to absorb knowledge with ease, and could often be found watching documentaries, as if they were his version of reality television. His passions later in his life involved his four-wheeler runs throughout Nova Scotia and watching sports.
Jimmy spent his life chasing dreams—and yes, chasing women, too—with a spark and determination that carried him right to the end. He fought through life at every turn, seeming at times to have more lives than a cat, and he lived each one fully in his own way. He was also an avid Toronto fan, standing by his team no matter how tough the seasons got.
Jimmy is survived by his five children: James (Tabitha Irving), Frankville; Kerri Rhynold (Darryl), Canso; Stacie Lohnes (Jody, Fort McMurray; Melissa Do (Mike), Calgary, and Angila Wallace (Steven, Canso. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren: Charles, Abigail, Natalie, Bailey, Wynter, Jordan, Kandace, Cameron, Cayden, Mathew, Landon, Ellie, Kayden, Lena, Jacob, Marcus, Jayden and Teigan. He is also survived by his siblings: Lorraine, John (Annalie), Eva, Bernice, Donna (Alden) Kay, and Joanne, as well as his godchildren, Michael and Michelle. He was also survived by many nieces and nephews who made a point to visit Uncle Jimmy when they were “home”; his Aunt Kay, the last surviving aunt on his dad’s side, as well as his PEI family, Aunt Elaine, Annemarie, Darlene, Len and Tammy and families. He was predeceased by his parents, James and Thelma (Daley) Wallace; sister, Betty; grandparents, James and Anne Wallace, Murray and Jessie Greencorn; and his uncle, Leonard Daley.
Jimmy will be remembered for his resilience, his stories, his humour, and the unforgettable way he lived his life — entirely on his own terms.
The family thanks and extends appreciation to Pam and the palliative care team, Dr. Gillis at St. Martha’s and Dr. Millburn and staff at EMH, for the care he received while in hospital.
A celebration of life will be held from 2-6 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the Canso Lions Club. A private burial will be held on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com
