11 Aug 1990
Wilena MacInnis Penny, age 55, died Saturday, August 11, 1990, in Antigonish, at home with her family. She is greatly loved and missed by her husband Gordon, and their children Patricia, Terry, Susan, Michael, Anne Marie, Mark, her grandchildren Alissa, Lindsey, David and Morgan, her mother Patricia Dawe MacInnis, her mother-in-law Elizabeth MacDonald Penny, her sisters Marie, Anne, Louise, her brothers, Ronald, Ira, Harold and Brendan. She was predeceased by her father Daniel Hugh MacInnis. Wilena, an avid student of celtic history and culture, graduated from Saint Francis Xavier University in 1980 with an honours degree in Celtic Studies. She was the first woman president of the Antigonish Highland Society and remained active with the society, serving as Games Chairperson for many years. She was actively involved in community and cultural events serving on the Board of Directors of The Scottish Societies Association of Nova Scotia, The Bergengren Credit Union, The Nova Scotia Pipe Band Association, Saint Ann’s Gaelic College, Festival Antigonish, and as Treasurer of the C.A.M.R Wilena was an avid traveller, visiting Europe several times. Her funeral mass was held at Holy Rosary Church, Ballantyne’s Cove with Rev. Angus MacGillivray, Rev. Howard Gardiner, Rev. Neil McKenna and Jackie McNeil, Deacon, officiating. Popper for the funeral mass was Scott Williams. Organist and soloist were James MacPherson and Margaret MacGregor-MacDonald. Violinist was Kendra MacGillivray. Active pallbearers were her two sons, Michael and Mark, and her four sons-in-law Ronald Gillis, Ronald MacGillivray, Gerard Dobek and Freddie Cogger. Honorary pallbearers were Ken Tulle, John Berridge, D.V. MacDonald, Ray MacLean, Joe MacDonald and Brendan MacInnis. Her family remembers and appreciates all kindness shown to Wilena.