MacDONALD, Karen (Read)

Karen (Read) MacDonald passed away peacefully on June 26, 2021, at Riverview Monarch Hall with her family by her side. Karen was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia on November 23, 1942, to the late John B and Annie MacDonald. She attended Mount Saint Bernard College in Antigonish and then worked primarily in the insurance industry. After getting married, Karen and her family lived in Ottawa, Regina, and Riverview. To Karen family was everything. She was a proud mother of Shawn Read (Zoe) and Andrea Mann (Blair). She loved all children, especially her grandchildren, Oliver and Joshua Read and Ellie and Avery Mann. She will be fondly remembered by a host of nieces and nephews. Karen will be truly missed by her siblings, Heather Bellmore (Brian), Charlotte Lucas (George), Ed MacDonald (Sue), John MacDonald (Verna), and her brother from another mother, Fred MacDonald. All were close relationships bonded by laughter. The loss of her quick wit and sense of humour will surely be felt by all who knew her. Karen was well known for her store Buttons ‘n Bows, but she had many other talents: she was a gifted artist, excellent cook, creatively decorated her home, could do needlepoint, sew, or knit anything, loved a good game of bridge, and still had time to do Shawn’s homework! Organization and problem-solving were her forte. Lemon pie went to the winning goal scorer of Shawn’s hockey games and Andrea’s friends would not have survived St.F.X. without her homemade candy, which was always in the fridge. She is fondly remembered as “Momma Read” to many. If you ever needed anything, Karen was there, willing to assist. Khalil Gibran wrote this On Giving: “It is well to give when asked; it is better to give unasked through understanding". That was the essence of Karen. Karen never tired of listening to the sound of the water. Her final resting place will be where her heart was, in Cape Breton. The family would like to thank the staff of Monarch Hall for the outstanding love and care given to Karen over the years. A service to celebrate her life will take place at Cobb’s Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 330 Whitepine Rd., Riverview on Saturday, July 3, 2021, at 11 a.m. Should you wish to attend the service please email info@cobbsfuneralhome.ca or call the funeral home (869-2007) to reserve your attendance and the number in your group. To view the service live streamed simply click on the link at the bottom of his obituary on the funeral home website. Donations in memory of Karen may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association, Kidney Foundation, or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cobbsfuneralhome.ca.