September 12, 2022
Susan R. MacKinnon, a bright and shining light in the lives of everyone she met, passed away peacefully, at her care residence in Nanaimo, September 12th at the age of 82.
A longtime resident of both Nanaimo and Ladner, Susan was born to Tom and Dorothy Manderson on May 4th, 1940. The second of six children, Susan grew up in the Saguenay region of Quebec.
At nineteen, she accompanied a friend on a blind date with a young Airman from PEI - Malcolm MacKinnon. It turned out well - a love story for the ages - a 59-year marriage that took her far beyond the Saguenay, but she never lost the ability to pinpoint the slightest hint of a Quebec accent.
She and "Mac" crisscrossed Canada raising two daughters - finding themselves stationed in Germany (Baden-Soellingen) - before setting in British Columbia, where they continued to travel the world at every opportunity.
Susan was equally at ease at a club function, on a cruise, striking up a conversation with a stranger, or simply sitting - with her legs up - reading. While her final years found her robbed of her speech and the ability to walk, Susan never lost her brilliant sense of humor, or that smile.
Preceded in death by her loving husband, Malcolm and her younger brother Tommy, Susan is survived by her daughters Jennifer (Jim) and Katherine, brother Ken Manderson (Crystal), and sisters Doris Decurnex (Michel), Vicki Cloutier (Yves), Lea Romenella (Andreas), and sister-in-law Jeannie Coffin, as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Her family wishes to gratefully acknowledge the loving care Susan received from her care providers at Chartwell Malispina, who's hearts share in her passing.
Susan's ashes will be in interred alongside her husband at Cedar Park Memorial, in Nanaimo. As per Susan's wishes, there will be no public services. In lieu of flowers, simply don your brightest outfit, pour a cup of tea and remember this amazing woman with a smile.