Family donates library space in memory of man who loved to read.
Family donates library space in memory of man who loved to read
Often when a loved one dies the family honours their memory in some way.
It might be a donation to a charity, an item purchased for a care facility, or an ongoing gift to a school. Whatever the act involves, it’s a lasting remembrance of a person’s spirit and their importance to others.
The memory of a former Florence resident is being honoured at the Northside Guest Home in the form of a library room. Dr. Robert MacNeil graduated from Sydney Mines High School and then from St Francis Xavier with a Bachelor of Arts. He was the first medical student to be accepted to Dalhousie with an Arts Degree.
After finishing his medical training he practiced in North Sydney for two years. He was the first house doctor at the Northside Guest Home. He then moved to Sussex New Brunswick where he was a family practitioner until his death in 1997. Besides medicine, Dr. MacNeil’s passions were family, reading, books and music. He was a self-taught pianist and organist and enjoyed playing and listening to all kinds of music.
After his sudden death, Robert’s wife Ann, a nurse, continued to live in Sussex with their son Alex and daughter Laura, and then moved back to Cape Breton in 2004, when she joined the staff at the Northside Guest Home.
When the 40th anniversary of the guest home was being planned, Ann and her children decided to contribute to the guest home facility by offering a library space. Since Robert was an avid reader throughout his life and the home didn’t have such a space, it made sense, and in no time after the decision was made, donations of books started pouring in. Furniture was donated by the family and shelving was ordered. Beautiful flowers arrangements and wall art made the room inviting, and a fireplace added that homey feeling.
Besides books, there are lots CDs and DVDs, and videos that visitors can use when spending time with residents. The library is just down the hall from the main entrance.
Even before it was fully organized the library became a place for staff to take their break, borrow a book or leaf through a magazine, check out a CD for a resident to listen to, or just sit by the fireplace and relax for a minute. One staff person even quit smoking so she could use the room on break and found she enjoys reading, something she never had much time for. It’s a peaceful oasis in a busy day.
Ann is very proud of Alex who is doing his residency at Dal in forensic psychology and Laura
who is an audiologist. Both are musical and as interested in books as their father was. The idea of this memorial to him is one they are all happy with and hope many will benefit from it.
The family chose the name “Pactus Otium” for the library. Its meaning, peace and quiet,
is very appropriate for Dr. MacNeil, who was a Latin scholar. A special dedication of the room will take place in May.
Take care.