Doris MacLeod
In Memory of
Doris
MacLeod
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Obituary for Doris MacLeod

Doris  MacLeod
MacLeod, Doris Irene (Bowles), 1923-2020. After a long, full life and a brief illness, Doris passed away in the Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Truro on April 10, 2020 in her 97th year.

Doris grew up in the multi-ethnic Ontario Street neighbourhood of Montreal, a community that nurtured her native kindness, tolerance and acceptance. During the Second World War, she worked as a bookkeeper for a large insurance company. Her younger brother, Eddie, a seaman in the Canadian merchant navy, impressed a Cape Breton crew-mate, Hugh John MacLeod, who wondered whether Eddie might have a sister. Told he did, HJ asked to meet the sister the first time their ship landed in Montreal. Doris, 21 at the time, felt that he was like Errol Flynn, only better. They married within a year and proceeded to raise a family in Nova Scotia. It was the best, luckiest decision HJ ever made. During a marriage that lasted nearly half a century he was the principal beneficiary of Doris's devotion, dedication and love. First came a son, then twin daughters, then another daughter. In her late forties when her own children were grown, Doris decided to start all over again. She happily resumed providing care for her grandchildren. It was at this point that Doris became ‘Nan’, a name that would persist to the end. Doris was first, last and always a mother, a caregiver and a nurturer. But she was much more besides. She paid attention not just to family and friends but to the world at large. She was a reader, a close follower of world affairs, a student of human nature. Possessed of rare empathy and intuition, she was a great listener. She would ask new friends about their lives and families, not merely to be polite but because she was genuinely interested in others. A friend would only have to report family details once. Doris would remember. She was a role model for growing old, consistently positive, resilient and brave. She understood that abundant good cheer was as beneficial to herself as to those around her.

Left to lament that she is no longer available to share her common sense, wisdom and compassion—and to induce laughter at just the right moment— are son, Alan (Janice Brown), Victoria, B.C.; daughters, Nora (Ron Whynacht), Herman’s Island, N.S., Nancy (Don Nelson), Clifton, N.S. and Kathleen (Jon Prentiss), Lunenburg, N.S.; grandchildren, Christopher and John, Michael and Sarah and Liam and Mairin. She also leaves behind six great-grandchildren, Hannah and Sara, Ana and Rex, and Teo and Luca, all of whom will have to make do with the world of memories she leaves behind. Doris was predeceased by her husband, Hugh John MacLeod; her parents, Herbert Percival Bowles and Agnes (Nancy) Middleton Bowles; as well as her brother, Herbert Edward Bowles. The family would like to thank the staff of Parkland - Truro and the Palliative Care Unit of the Colchester East Hants Health Centre for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations in Nan’s memory may be made to any charity which provides care for children, because she would appreciate that. Arrangements have been entrusted to Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow St., Truro. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.ColchesterCommunity.com