Mildred Whidden Obituary, Death – Mildred May Whidden, age 98, of New Glasgow, died on January 2, 2023 in Valley View Villa, Rivrton, Pictou County. She was the daughter of the late Charles and Julia (Hattie) McCabe and was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta. She and her three sisters, Elsie, Laura, and Shirley, relocated to Sunny Brae, Pictou County, when she was eight years old, and were reared by their Uncle Jim and Aunt Martha MacQuarrie when their mother died. Mildred attended Normal College in Truro and obtained her permissive teaching license.
Years of study followed, culminating in a master’s degree in education from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish. She worked as a teacher, acting coach, guidance counselor, and vice principal during her career. She liked teaching, adventure, and travel, so it was only natural that she combined the three by taking her family to schools in Sunny Brae, Stillwater, Sherbrooke, Greenwood, Middleton, Calgary, New Glasgow, and Labrador City. She continued to take on new challenges after retiring in 1988, learning to paint and making lovely pieces that she donated to family and friends.
She also authored novels about her background and life as a wife, mother, sister, and friend. She enjoyed assisting immigrants in settling in Canada and teaching them English. Mildred was predeceased by her husband Harold in 1998 and her great-granddaughter Faith Hartling in 2011. She was also predeceased by her sisters Elsie, Shirley, and Laura. Mildred will be remembered by many around the country as a sincere and loyal friend. Her door was always open, and her phone was always ringing. Mildred was a wonderful mother and grandmother who inspired and cared profoundly for her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her son Jim (Anne) of Kingston, Ontario, daughter Glenda Lamey (Leo) of Westville, a daughter Susan Jordan (Lennie) of Sherbrooke, and a son John (Mary) of Halifax, as well as grandkids Sonya, Jeff, Jessica, Mary, and eleven great-grandchildren.