Learn more or change your cookie preferences. By continuing to use our service, you agree to our use of cookies. We use cookies why? You can change cookie preferences. This article was published more than 8 years ago. Some information may no longer be current. Rita MacNeil's ashes rest in a teapot at her funeral at St. Mary's Church in Big Pond, N. The year-old singer died in hospital in Sydney, Nova Scotia, following complications from surgery after a recurring infection.
She will always remain in the hearts of all Cape Bretoners, her legacy will live on for years to come. I will always remember Rita for the challenges she faced, the fortitude with which she addressed them, and the great successes she had as a result of very hard work and a positive attitude. She is a legacy and someone every Canadian, young or old, greatly admires.
Thank you Rita for bringing us such pleasure in your music. My thought and prayers are with the family. Cape Breton and World has lost someone very special. I had the privilege of meeting Rita a number of years ago when she was performing in Babcaygeon, Ont. A beautiful lady. God has something bigger and better for her. RIP Rita, you will be missed. I had never met Rita, her music was just so sincere. A beautiful voice she sure had. My prayers go out to her family.
Your musical legacy will remain in our hearts forever. You will be greatly missed! It can be so hard to face the first year without your loved one, but the love of family and friends can carry you through.
We Will Miss Rita. RIP Rita you had the voice of an angel you will be greatly missed by everyone who knew you and may god bless your family and give them strength at this difficult time Ethel and George Stone River Bourgeois Cape Breton. To the Mac Neil family sorry to hear about Rita's passing, she was a beautiful lady. She was a big fan in my household growing up as my Dad just loved her, He also passed away a month ago.
Rita MacNeil was a lovely, talented, and strong lady who brought so much inspiration to my family, and to countless others. She consistently represented Cape Breton with such pride and dignity, allowing all of us to catch a glimpse of this beautiful isle and its people.
Her music and spirit was a gift to us all Our sympathy to all the MacNeil Family! She was an inspiration to all!
My condolences to the family of Rita MacNeil. Thank you for your beautiful music. Your music will live on forever and Cape Breton is surely blessed to have you as its Lady of Song. Rita was such a talented lady, with a beautiful voice, too young to be taken from us, she will be in our hearts forever and she will never be forgotten, there was only one Rita, my condolences to the MacNeil family, she really does light candles.
To the family of Rita, please accept my deepest condolences. Although I never met Rita or seen her perform live, I know she was a good, loving woman. I also know she had a Faith in God. I will always cherish the signed photo she sent me a few years back. There's another angel from Cape Breton in Heaven. We were blessed to have known Rita both personally and as the truly gifted and talented person that she was.
Laura and Wade and your families, you are in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. Her legacy will live on in her gift of music to everyone, and her family. She was truly an inspiration to all. You were such a gracious lady RIP dear lady. As Bruce Mac Kinnon said in his column,she is with the band! She is now singing in the heavenly choir.
To the Mac Neil family sorry to hear about Rita's passing our prayers and thoughts are with you at this time the Melanson family. Her music will carry on forever. I was so trilled to see her play in the little town of Welland On.
The stars will now shine just that much brighter and we will carry your music in our hearts. Miss you already. Love to your family. Karen Minkoff and Family formerly from CB. It was deep sadness to hear of the loss of your dear mother, and friend to so many. The voice of an angel is now singing with the rest of the angels. Your music will live on forever.
Love and prayers from another Cape Bretoner. Thank you Rita, for giving us the gift of your great voice for us to listen to. I am glad I got the pleasure of meeting you twice. Love you Rita, always.
Condolence to all the family. My father was a C. Dan Devoe Ottawa, Ont. I never met Rita MacNeil and so wished I had.. Her songs are so inspiring and I love listening to her sing.. She will be much missed by a lot of people Rest in Paradise Ms. Your gentle spirit will forever be a part of our lives through your music.
Blessings and comfort to family and friends during this time. Rita Mac Neil was one of the finest human beings I ever met. Her talent was a great gift to the world. As her fame grew,she attracted a lot of positive feedback for the beauty of our island to the rest of the world. I cried all morning on Wed. God bless Rita and all those who loved her. My name is Gladys Milley,Glace Bay. We sure have lost someone very dear.
Rita will be missed by everyone. I went to many concerts and was taken to another level listening to her wonderful voice. She was a remarkable person.
The angels will gain an exceptional person and voice for their choir. My heart goes out to u the family,God bless u Rita,we all love u. As a fellow Cape Bretoner, Rita gave us hope that we can all strive for our dreams and they can come true. She was an inspiration and will forever be in our hearts.
Your music will play on. God bless you Rita. I will forever treasure that wonderful evening. Vivienne Tapanila. It's so sad to hear of another great voice and even more so, such a great person, leaving us. Our deepest sympathies to all of her family at this time. Our thoughts are with you. Fergus O'Byrne and Family. Rose, Our thoughts are with you at this time of need and would love to express our sincere condolences. We will keep you in our prayers.
Mitch and Fran. Dear Laura, Wade and family. We were so sad to hear of the passing of Rita. I guess the good Lord needed another angel that could sing as sweet as your mother. My wife and I sit here remembering a meeting with your dear mother for the first time in the mall in Ajax. She was so kind to take the time to allow us to take pictures of her and us and to sign a copy of the CD we purchased Porch Songs. When she realized that my family is from Sydney N. She said she thought we might be related.
I told her at the time that we had visited her tea house the school house on the 2nd day it was open and that we had taken pictures of her family. When she performed at Roy Thomson Hall she spent at least 2 hours on stage singing a variety of songs. When the concert was over the audience gave her 6 - 8 standing ovations. She was truly loved. The world will greatly miss your mother Laura and Wade.
She exuded such warmth, charm and personality. She made the world a better place. We send our love and condolences. Joseph and Valerie Burke, Pickering, Ontario. I first met you Rita at Expo 86 in Vancouver BC , you were one of the singers on stage and I heard her you ask if there were any Cape Bretoners in the audience I yelled I was and you asked me to stand up and after I was given a mike you asked me to tell who I was and why I was there. When we finished the whole audience started to clap and say Yah Go Cape Breton.
My wife to be, Gwendolyn Rose was so embarrassed and told me to sit down when I first stood up though. Malcolm, Ruth and the MacNeil family, we are so sorry to hear of Rita's passing, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. Bruce, Trish and all of the MacNeil family - I am so sorry to hear of Rita's passing, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Her music always inspires me. And in particular, her "Flying on your own" has been a mantra in my life.
Thank you, Rita, for such a gift you were to the music industry. You shared a God-given talent and it will have rippled effects down through time. My prayerful support and sympathy to your family. May they know God's comfort and love. May your gentle soul, Rita, rest in eternal peace in God's loving embrace. My heartfelt sympathies and prayers be with you. In my My Condolences go out to Rita's family- Such a loss to many, Rita had such a beautiful voice and I loved her music.
Again my sympathy goes out to her family in there time of need. I am truly sad that she is no longer with us. Rita you will be missed. I met you when you were at the QE. I loved your singing. You were such a great song writer too. The Lady, her smile and her music will never be forgotten. Dear Lord, we thank you for the blessing of this wonderful soul you lent us.
Our deepest sympathy to Laura and Wade and Family. I had the pleasure of working for Rita and will always treasure that time. She will be missed but her voice will live strong through her music.
I like to express my sympathy to you all She will always remain in the hearts of Cape Bretoners.. Maggie Currie Sydney,N. May peace be with Rita's family during this sad time. The world has lost more than a beautiful voice - we've lost a beautiful woman with a heart as big as the island.
Such a shock to hear of Rita's death - may she rest in peace. She was an amazing lady and certainly will be missed by many. Sympathy to all her family. To the Mac Neil family - We are so very sorry to hear of Rita's passing.
She will be missed so much - God Bless you all. Our condolence to the Mac Neil family. It was with great shock and sadness when we heard of Rita's passing,She will be missed by all who know Rita or anyone who has heard her sing. Your memory and music will live on. I'd like to express my sympathy to Rita's family and friends. Joella Foulds said to me one day, "Brian, you have to hear this woman sing.
Joella brought her in to audition and, to say the least, I was blown away! I fell in love with her voice, her songs and her. Things went on from there and the rest is history.
I am so thankful that Rita and I played a small part in each other's lives! Brian Sutcliffe. It was with great sadness when we heard the news of Ritas passing. Now Home She will be! Sorry to hear of the passing of Rita, our thoughts and prayers to her family, I seen Rita perform at Expo 86 and a few years later at the Q. Theater in Vancouver, fabulous shows. To the MacNeil Family.. May God bless you in this time of sorrow. Thank you Rita for your beautiful music and the heavens above are going to sound so harmonious with the warmth of Cape Breton's heart and soul.
May you rest in peace. We will miss you forever but have your beautiful voice to comfort us in our loss. I never met you Rita but I feel like you were part of my immediate family. Farewell for now. Donna Marie Hayes. My heartfelt sympathy to the entire MacNeil family and freinds of Rita.
Rita will truly live on through her gentle spirit and her precious music. Rita, thank you for all the joy in your lovely voice! Rest in Peace. Blessings to your family and friends. It was Christmas and my parents gave me a new winter coat, though they couldn't afford to do so but they seen that I was in much need of one and they knew I didn't have the resources to get one at the time.
I was feeling very humble and grateful. After the day, I was driving back home over Mt Tom by myself and reflecting of the days happening and Rita's Christmas song came on the radio. The wall of emotion resistance was torn away, I broke down in tears as I felt Rita's power of song reach my inter spirit.
I believe God spilled the entire bucket of this gift upon Rita and we have to be grateful of her sharing it too us. Thank you so much Rita for all of your beautiful singing and songwirting. You have a new place to sing now in the heavens above.
God bless, RIP. The MacDonald's Dartmouth,N. Rita will always be remembered as Cape Bretons Lady of music and songs. A wonderful person. May she be at peace. To all family members of Rita MacNeil.
Our condolences on the passing of such a kind,gentle,compassionate,loving soul. Rita your memory will live on in our hearts forever. Sing loud and proud our beautiful Cape Breton Queen of music. Thoughts and prayers The Myrdens Queensland N. I am very saddened to hear of Rita's passing and send sincere condolences to Rita's family.
Rita, through her love, support and wonderful heartfelt music has touched my life deeply and this has helped me through many tough times in my life. I will keep her memory forever in my heart. Phyllis, Nova Scotia. Rita will be so missed but not forgotten -- like a family member.
I am so proud and happy that we go to take in almost all of Rita's performances. Rita's songs will live in us all. So sad to hear of Rita's passing. A beautiful lady and amazing song writer.
My thoughts and prayers are with Rita's family. Thankful that her songs will keep her in our hearts forever. Rita will be sorely missed, but not forgotten - like a family member. Your songs will live on in us all. May you rest in the presence of Jesus,sweet Lady,you will be greatly missed and may your music live forever. We're sorry to hear of Rita's passing. I've seldom listened to a Rita song that I didn't shed a tear. They always bring me home to my Nova Scotia. So many have seen the caricatures online of Rita at heaven's gate Many of my kinfolk and I felt a heart surge knowing that our specific loved ones were in the audience and 'havin' a time' with her.
My deepest sympathy goes out to the family. Very shock to hear this. A beautiful woman. Sincere condolences to the family of a wonderful woman and a fantastic singer. Nova Scotia, Cape Breton in particular, Canada and the world will never forget her. Her music will go on both here and in Heaven. May you rest in peace, Rita. So sorry this sadness has come so soon in Rita's life. She will always be in our hearts and prayers.
Our deepest sympathies to all the family. To Rita's Family My deepest sympathy. Rita gave us all many happy moments of pleasure. Thank you to Rita's family for allowing us to share many years of her love and talent.
I grew up to her music and forever hope she lives in us all. Rest In Peace Rita. Billyacrocker gmail. Wade and family, So sorry to hear of the passing of your mother. She always had a kind word for Briana when she worked there at the Tea room and Briana always spoke highly of her and you her children. Know she was loved by many and will be missed. Be proud of your roots and hers they go deep. Beannachd Leat! Cape Breton has loss another great singer Rita your voice was amazing and I will miss your music I grew up in Cape Breton and I am very proud to listen to all our Cape Breton talent So very sad to lose such a wonderful talent, such a gentle soul.
So glad that we were able to see you last year at Centre , when you sang with The Men of the Deeps, at the closing ceremonies for the "Canada Games". Little did we know then, that it was the last time we'd see you. Thank you for the beautiful music. My heartfelt sympathy to her family. Such a great loss for Cape Breton and the world! Sad to hear that Rita passed away. A very talented and gentle soul who will be missed by many.
Enjoyed her music for many years. You were a gentle soul who had an angelic voice, you blessed us all with that. My thoughts and prayers are with your family and friends. Gob Bless. To all the residents of Big Pond. We will miss Rita immensely. We attended her concerts in NL and in Toronto many times. Those were many good times that she gave us.
Never to be replaced. She was a beautiful decent person. Rita McNeil was my husbands favorite canadian singer, He passed on 8 yrs ago We se nd condolances to the family,on the loss of a much loved icon Bless you Rita,asyou sing for godin the angel choir..
I was saddened to hear of her death. She was a remarkable singer. She continued reading: "A small service at St. Mary's Church, Big Pond; a few words and simple prayers. I want my song, Weary Travelers , to be played. A party at the fire hall to follow with cash bar and my nieces and nephew to play. MacNeil added that she wanted her ashes scattered around her tea room, which is just down the highway from the church. The people, who packed the tiny year-old church, burst into laughter.
But then the moving words from Weary Travelers — "Now the road that lies before me doesn't seem so far today. We are all weary travelers, traveling on, traveling on …" — had people dabbing their eyes. Displayed at the front of the church, on a small table covered in a blue tartan, was the teapot urn, a picture of Ms.
MacNeil and one of her trademark fedoras — a bright red one.
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