Marie Therese Cecile McKINNON

Was born on October 22, 1921 and went to her Lord peacefully on February 25, 2012. Cecile was born in a prairie sod house in Val Marie, Saskatchewan. Her family moved to the area of Mission, BC when she was 12. She attended St. Ann's in New Westminster and then trained as a hairdresser. She married Allan McKinnon, a dairy farmer, in 1945 and then moved to Port Alberni with their growing family in 1956 where she has lived since.

Predeceased by her husband Allan in 2003 and her brothers Olivier, Albert, Pierre, Prosper, Jules and sisters Marie Louise and Francoise, she is survived by her brother Antoine Pinel (Evelyn) and her children: Mary McCann (Arnold), Henri (Val Forshaw), Fred (Laurie), Cecilia Suter (David), Theresa Anderberg (David), Helen Hammond (Robin), Alice Chomeakwich and Joseph (Deb). She also leaves her grandchildren: Kevin McCann (Cheryl), Kim Wright (Kirt), Aaron McKinnon (Tara), Christopher McKinnon (Sarah), Andrea Close (Devin), Michael McKinnon, Caroline McKinnon, Nathan Suter (Nicola), Eileen Ouillette (Jeremy), Janine Howe (Graham), Jennifer Anderberg, Scott Hammond (Jamie), Steven Hammond (Josie), Erika Chomeakwich, Nikki Chomeakwich, Jessica McKinnon and Natasha McKinnon; great grandchildren: Crystal (Stuart), Cameron, Cody, Ian, Marissa, Magnolia, Scarlett, Sarah, Benjamin, Gabrielle, Cassandra, Jordan, Kaleb and Carter and great great granddaughter Julie as well as many other relatives and a host of friends.

Always an active volunteer, Cecile was president of the PTA, a school board member and belonged to the Catholic Women's League for 55 years.

Prayers will be said at 7:00pm on Friday, March 2, 2012 at the Chapel of Memories Funeral Home, 4005-6th Ave. A Funeral Mass will take place at 12:00pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at Holy Family-Notre Dame Catholic Church, 4731 Burke Rd. with Fr. Stephen Paine celebrant. Cremation to follow. Stories and condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting www.chapelofmemories.ca.

In lieu of flowers donations in Cecile's memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon, PO Box 255, Port Alberni, V9Y 7M7, or Echo Village/Fir Park Village Foundation, 4200 - 10th Ave., Port Alberni, V9Y 4X3.

This obituary was originally published in the Alberni Valley Times (Port Alberni, BC).