GODUTO, Aileen

Sydney

Mary Aileen Goduto – known to most as Aileen, and to her nearest and dearest as Weenie – passed away on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at the An Cala Palliative Care Unit in Sydney. Feisty and strong-minded, she was the true heart of her family and a constant, guiding light to her husband and children, who will deeply miss the warmth and liveliness she brought to their lives.

Born May 12, 1953 at St. Rita’s Hospital in Sydney, Aileen was the first baby girl born in the new facility. The daughter of the late Donald White and Thelma (née Evans) White (later Murphy), she grew up in Whitney Pier, where she attended Holy Redeemer Girls’ School. During this time, she met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Dominic, and embarked on a loving partnership that spanned nearly 50 years.

She attended Holy Angels High School, then Dalhousie University’s School of Nursing, from which she earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree in 1977. She worked as a mental health nurse for several years at the Abbie J. Lane Hospital in Halifax and the Cape Breton Hospital in Sydney before leaving to focus on raising her children.

Aileen was a dedicated, involved mother whose life revolved around her family, and as her kids grew up, she was an active presence at every school and extracurricular event – from chaperoning field trips, to supplying treats and decorations for holiday parties and hand-making Halloween costumes. However, she also found time to pursue a variety of interests with her trademark zeal and intensive attention to detail.

Game to try anything once, she believed in embracing the new, and never did things by half measures. She taught Lamaze classes and was a strong advocate for breastfeeding, helping many new mothers master the skill. She was also an avid gardener who derived great satisfaction from the many hours she spent turning her yard into a tranquil oasis of greenery and blooms, admired by everyone who visited.

She loved swimming laps in her pool (and could easily outswim her husband) and enjoyed hosting the odd pool party – particularly her annual Canada Day bash. In fact, Aileen had an instinctive talent for entertaining and always put immense thought and effort into making her guests feel at home. Attending a “do” she hosted was a real experience. She believed in celebrating even the smallest milestones in life and making the everyday feel special, and beautifully decorated her home for every holiday – including elaborate themed table settings that perfectly captured the spirit of each occasion.

Aileen enjoyed exploring new places both at home and abroad and made sure her kids grew up with an appreciation for the wonders of travel. She and Dominic made at least a dozen trips to destinations in Europe, including multi-country rail journeys and Mediterranean and river cruises, as well as numerous visits to places across Canada and the USA. But as much as she loved to roam, she also had a deep appreciation of Cape Breton’s beauty and loved driving around the Cabot Trail and spending time on the beach in Ingonish.

Aileen’s love of her family developed into a keen interest in genealogy. She spent many years intensively researching her family tree, a pursuit which took her from the archives of St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond. She joined a number of genealogical organisations, including the Cape Breton Genealogy and Historical Association, and met countless interesting people around the world – many of whom became good friends – as she doggedly tracked down leads and expanded her family network.

Now the bit for Aileen’s fellow genealogists: she is survived by her husband, Dominic, Sydney; her children, Domenica Goduto (Scott Keenan), Edinburgh, UK, and Don Carlo Goduto (Larissa), Dartmouth; her sisters, Madonna Hamm (Garnet), Calgary and Elizabeth ‘Betty Lou’ White (Robert Rudderham), Coxheath; brother, Richard White (Jean), Sydney; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents.

Cremation has taken place and a family memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cape Breton Hospital Foundation Cancer Patient Care Fund or Palliative Care Unit.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.twcurry.com.