Boutilier (MacFarlane), Alice Rose – Age 96 of James Street, Truro, passed away peacefully at home on January 5, 2020. Born in Truro, she was a daughter of the late Fred and Zylpha (Wheaton) MacFarlane.
Alice grew up in Truro in a large family and was one of the youngest of 17 children. She left school during the depression to work at the local Lewis Hat Factory. During the Second World War, she joined the Women’s Army Corps and served doing naval communications in Halifax. Military service was extremely important in her family, and her mother Zylpha was the Silver Cross mother for Canada in 1957.
Alice, through her working life was a “mom” to more than just her family, working at for example, Layton’s snack bar and Fletchers. She worked very hard; she saved her tips to fund the great escape for her and her family each year at “the beach” in Bass River. Through her long life she looked after most of her grand and great-grandchildren and her husband when he was ill. She will be sadly missed and never forgotten.
She is survived by children, Dixie Duggan, Belinda Taylor (George), Doug (Jeanette), Debbie Yorke (Wade), Ross (Brian), Herb, and Zylpha Taggart (Tom); grandchildren, Georgie (Janice), Bill, Angela, Dixie, Olivia, Melissa, Jacqueline (Steve), Sarah (Craig), Emily (Dwayne), Tyler, Jennifer, Thomas, Alysse, Megan; great-grandchildren, Bailey, Jillian, Jack, Ryan, Matthew, Jacqueline (Kyle), Jessica, Victoria, Keegan, Gavin, Chloe, Nathan, Jacob, Kaylee, Jaxen, Brayden; great great-granddaughter, Hanna; sister-in-law, Ruth MacFarlane, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by husband, Douglas Malcolm Boutilier; brothers, Cecil, George, Fred, Bert, Joe, David, Herb, Dexter, Alexis, Ken; sisters, Elsie, Bessie, Al, Lil, Jack, Hattie; sons-in-law, Les, Wayne, Jim; great-granddaughter, Gloria.
Cremation has taken place under the direction of Arimathea Funeral Cooperative, Upper Musquodoboit. Respecting her wishes, there will not be a memorial service. There will be an interment gathering at a later date. Donations in memory of Alice may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Alice’s family want to express their sincerest appreciation to Dr. Don Rowe, the VON home nursing and home support group (who were fantastic in enabling Alice to stay in her home through her declining years), and to the Colchester East Hants Health Authority Palliative Care home support program and staff.
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