Maureen passed away peacefully on June 19, 2017, at the age of 85. Born in London, England, she was predeceased by her parents, Sidney and Mary Bullen (nee Sullivan), brother Sid, and husband Callum MacKinnon. She is survived by her sons Sean of Ottawa and Neil (Nora) of Toronto; grandsons Kyle, Connor, and Lukas of Ottawa; beloved sister Mary Forde and niece and goddaughter Veronica Forde of Humarock, Massachussetts; many more nieces and nephews; and dear friends Irene Kidder of Barrie, Ontario, and Helen and Chris Lohan and Jean Salidas of Hanmer, Ontario.

Maureen lived a life of love and quiet strength. She was tested early in life, as she and her sister Mary were among thousands of children evacuated from London to the English countryside in the dark days of the Blitz during World War II. That experience forged a loving bond between the sisters that would last a lifetime. When Mary and her husband Tony moved to Canada, Maureen was a frequent visitor at a time when trans-Atlantic travel was no small feat, especially for a young woman travelling alone. It was while visiting Mary in Sudbury, Ontario, that Maureen bumped into a local police officer, Cal MacKinnon – literally bumped into, since the snow was piled so high they didn’t see each other approaching and collided on a street corner. It was a meeting that was meant to be, and when Maureen returned to England, Cal soon followed. They were married in 1962 in London, where their two boys were born.

In the early 1970s, Maureen and Cal decided that Canada offered the opportunity and environment they wanted for themselves and their boys. They moved their young family from the south coast of England to Hanmer, a little town north of Sudbury, Ontario. The Northern Ontario winters were tough but Maureen was tougher. Maureen and Cal made many lasting connections in the community, forging deep friendships and building a life for themselves and their family. When Cal passed away suddenly in 1990, Maureen found herself unexpectedly on her own, but she opened new doors and pressed ahead. Building strong new friendships through St. Kevin’s Parish and all kinds of charitable activities, Maureen constructed a new life, her own life, never backing away from challenges, always far more interested in helping others than worrying about her own troubles.

She took pride in her colourful flowers and bountiful vegetable garden; her contributions to the parish bake sale were legendary; she created Christmas ornaments, crafts, and toys to sell at the church bazaar to raise money for the less fortunate. She delighted in the hummingbirds that would visit her feeder and even developed her own special sugary recipe to keep them hovering year after year. The arrival of her first grandchild, Kyle, followed, in due course, by two more –Connor and Lukas ( twins!) – meant many solo drives down the Trans-Canada Highway to Ottawa to visit Sean and his young family. She was “Nanna” to her grandsons, and she loved them as only a Nanna can. As time rolled on, she faced growing health challenges – rheumatoid arthritis, in particular, took its toll – but she soldiered on, secure in her faith, giving of her time and love to others. Whether volunteering at a local nursing home, or serving as a Eucharistic Minister at her church, or simply visiting with friends for tea, Maureen made a difference to so many people in her community.

Early in 2015, she'd had enough of snow-filled driveways, treacherous footing, and everything about the harsh northern winters. She decided to move to Toronto to live with her son Neil and daughter-in-law Nora. It wasn't an easy decision -- she missed her friends and her home, and was especially wistful at no longer being able to drive. But as with every other challenge in her life, she just kept moving forward. She planted marigolds and petunias and was able to enjoy the backyard without having to worry about her omnipresent northern nemesis, "the Blackfly." (She always referred to black flies as a singular entity -- her only true enemy.)

In the autumn of 2015, Maureen was diagnosed with lung cancer. A year later, as she learned the cancer had spread, she responded in typical fashion: “I would have liked a few more years … but I’ve had a good life.” Maureen’s last months were spent at the Sunnybrook Palliative Care Unit in Toronto. She enjoyed getting outside and sitting in the warm spring sun amongst the early season flowers. Her smile never wavered, and she comforted her sons, who found it difficult to think of a world without their beloved Mum. Her last whispered words epitomized the way she lived -- a simple “I love you.” We love you too, Mum. How will we go on without your love and quiet strength? We will miss you so.


Maureen gave of her time, energy, and resources to many charities. If you wish, please make a donation in her name to the Arthritis Society of Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Sunnybrook Palliative Care Unit, or any other charity that is meaningful to you. We want to say a special "thank you" to the nurses and all the staff at Sunnybrook K1E. Your professionalism and tireless efforts ensured our mum's final days were comfortable, but it was your kindness and compassion that touched her and us more than we ever could have imagined. Thank you, a thousand times over.