Obituary of Juliette McNeill

McNEILL, Juliette Pictou April 3, 1935 – November 8, 2023 Marie Esther “Juliette” McNeill died peacefully at the Palliative Care Unit of the Aberdeen Hospital in the early morning of Wednesday November 8, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She left us quietly after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. Juliette was the eldest of four children born to Odipha and Madeleine (LaPierre) Bourgeois of Amherst, Les Isles de la Madeleine, P.Q. In her early twenties she moved to Pictou, N.S. where she became a memorable employee of the Old Scot Restaurant. It was there that she met the love of her life, James Edward “Jim” McNeill. They married in 1961, raised a family together, and remained steadfastly devoted to each other until Jim’s death in 2004. She lived her life with passion, filled with music, painting, cooking beautiful meals, camping, traveling, and spending time with her family. She shared her love with several cherished dogs throughout her life, and she was often seen in the company of a Border Collie. Juliette was a long-term employee of Michelin Tire, Granton, having worked there for 17 years before retiring in 1991. She continued to value the many friends she made there long after her retirement. Besides her parents and husband, Juliette is predeceased by her brother, Francis Xavier (Francois) Bourgeois of Montreal and infant grand-daughter, Lia (Jamie and Amy) McNeill. She is survived by siblings, Elise Bourgeois and Jean Marc (Claudette) Bourgeois, all of Montreal. She is further survived by her children, Maureen (Darrell) Jones of Scotsburn; Jamie (Amy) McNeill of Lawrencetown Beach; and Jody (Fay) McNeill of Abercrombie. Juliette was gifted with three beautiful grandchildren, Cortney Jones (Josh Hillier) of Chester; Robbie Jones (Ashley Poirier) of Port Williams; and Olivia McNeill of Lawrencetown Beach and step-grandchildren, Cady Trites (Daniel) of Edmonton; and Kyle Heighton (Brooke) of Pictou. Juliette’s final months were illuminated by the arrival of her first and only great- grandchild, Natalie Juliette Hillier, born March 9, 2023. Visitation will be held 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm Sunday, November 12, 2023, at McLaren Funeral Home in Pictou. Funeral service will be at Stella Maris Catholic Church, Pictou, at 11am Monday, November 13, 2023 with Father Peter MacDonald officiating, followed by internment at Seaview Cemetery. There will be a reception hosted by the Catholic Women’s League at the Stella Maris Church Hall immediately after the services. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Pictou County SPCA.