WALSH, Marie Cecilia

It is with heartfelt sadness that we say good-bye to our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and good friend. Marie Cecelia Walsh, age 88, passed away peacefully, with her family by her side, on April 29, 2021, in Halifax. Marie began her life on September 17, 1932, in Halifax, the eldest child of Maxime and Denathilde "Tilly" Pottie. As a girl, she attended St. Mary's Girls' School on Grafton Street and then later St. Patrick's Girls' High School on Brunswick Street where she played basketball. After high school she worked at the Department of Fisheries, where she fought for the right to continue working throughout her pregnancy. During that time, she attended dances in Halifax, where she eventually met the love of her life… nick. The story goes that when he first asked her to dance, she politely refused because she thought he might not be a good dancer. She soon realized that he was one of the best dancers around and they danced through life together for the next 50 years (46 of them married). Marie and Nick were a constant on the big-band dance scene at local boat clubs and the Shore Club in Hubbards during the 50’s and 60’s, and then at formal dinner dances. Later, Marie organized many dinner dances herself at the Lord Nelson and the Hotel Nova Scotian with their favourite local big band, The Johnny Manders Band. Marie also was very active in Canadian Martyrs Parish, where she lent a hand in organizing church social events, including special occasion dances, and the “Over 55 Club”, which gathered senior members of the church for fun games of bridge, cards, and tea every week for 20 years. Marie always took special care of the elderly in the church. Marie had a beautiful, generous spirit that she shared through their fun house parties, dinners, and bridge games with lifelong friends; family dinners and backyard barbeques; her homemade bread, brownies, and chocolate marshmallow squares for the grandchildren; and in the hearty meals she made for seniors who were housebound. Through the years, she immersed herself in knitting and making her own clothes (including beautiful ball gowns and cocktail dresses); perfecting her green thumb in her backyard gardens); walking every day; and playing weekly bridge with her bridge club until she was almost 85. Marie will be missed dearly and fondly remembered by her family, friends and all who knew her throughout her life. She was predeceased by her husband, Nick; her second eldest son, Danny; her parents; her sisters, Shirley (in infancy) and Sister Anna; her brothers, Joe, Tom, Father Ken, and Wilf. Marie is survived by her sons, Gerry (Monica), Michael (Norine) and her daughter, Anne-marie - all of Halifax; by her grandchildren, Martha, William, Rebecca, Christina, Julianne, and Sage; her brothers, Father Charles Pottie and Wayne Pottie, her niece, Judy Power, and other nieces and nephews. A special thank you to Faye Lee for being such a good friend to Marie for so many years. Special thanks to the nursing staff of Parkland for their care and compassion, especially during her last days. A family service will take place at a later date.