Celine Kenney

KENNEY, Anna Celine (née MacLellan)

September 13, 1928 – February 27, 2022

Celine ended her earthly journey, age 93, at Mount Nemo Christian Nursing Home in Burlington, Ontario. Born and raised in her beloved Port Hood, NS, Celine was one of nine children born to Hugh John MacLellan and Jessie Anne Campbell, both of Port Hood. Celine later married in Montréal, and had four children, raised in both Liverpool, NS and Montréal. She immersed her young family in Cape Breton’s beauty and culture back ‘home’ during summer breaks from her 25 years of teaching grade school with the Montréal Catholic School Commission. She spent active retirement years in Montréal and Halifax. Her final years were spent in the picturesque landscape of Mount Nemo, part of the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario.

She is survived by her children Sylvia Tam (Ying) in Toronto and Halifax; John (Anita Conidaris) in Montréal; Andrea “Aundy” Kenney (Brian Allen) in Mississauga; Kathryn “Kathy” Kenney in Langley, BC; grandchildren Aidan and Madeleine Tam, Bryant and Emily Kaye; brother Gerald; sisters Gina Lush and Barbara Sharp. Predeceased by her former husband John “Jack” Kenney; brothers John Sr. and John Jr., sisters Helen Botsford, Mary-Beth Mahoney, and Theresa “Terry” Daines.

Mum will be lovingly and enviably remembered for her all-around package of God-given gifts. Beginning at age 3, she taught herself to play piano and read. An eager student, she skipped grades. Her first job as a young teen was as a cantor for the Latin Mass five mornings per week, a two-mile walk from her home – rain, wind or snow.

Generous and charitable of spirit and time for her family and the less fortunate, she was also organized - almost to a fault (!) - yet mostly to everyone’s benefit. Musical and fun-loving, she championed the necessary ‘sing-song’ with her self-taught piano skills wherever groups gathered. Her wit and energy transformed the everyday mundane into laugh-inducing hilarity and turn of phrase (good grammar compulsory!). She loved entertaining and cooking (especially for her grandchildren), singing, music, reading, movies, visual arts, charitable work and travel. She had a baffling and beguiling fashion sense, able to pull together a top-to-toe ‘look’ like nobody’s business, always impeccably tasteful and stylish. With such overall allure, she made many lifelong friends in Nova Scotia and Montréal with whom she maintained faithful contact. She warmed many-a-heart at her nursing home with charming hugs, smiles and wit. We will all miss those hugs.

Mumma’s Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at a later date to be determined along with interment alongside her beloved mother, ‘Angel of Peace’, Jessie Anne MacLellan, at Victoria Lawn Cemetery in St. Catharines, Ontario. Return to this link for details regarding the mass as they become available.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation (see details below) to the ‘best little non-profit nursing home that could’ - Mount Nemo Christian Nursing Home - where the care and caring mum received was a constant and priceless 9-year gift to her and her family’s peace of mind.

You may click on Celine's main picture to enlarge the photo.