Emma Jane Mackrous

August 4, 1929 – May 7, 2023

Emma Jane MacKrous, of Cochrane AB, passed away on May 7th, 2023 at the age of 93 years. Emma was born in Cape Breton, NS, on August 4th, 1929. She moved to Montreal, QC. where she met and married John MacKrous. Together they had four sons born in Montreal and one daughter who was born in Cape Breton.

In Emma’s youth, she loved spending time with her beloved sister Margaret MacLean. The two would “borrow” other people’s horses and ride through the backlands and on the beaches of Ingonish. She was a great baseball player and would pitch for her team from daylight to dark. Emma was very close to her father, Archibald MacKinnon. He would build her sleds that would glide along the snow on a crisp winter day. He would tell her stories of her Scottish-MacKinnon heritage, of which Emma was immensely proud. She happily passed this pride down to her children. Of her father, she would reverently say to her children who never got the chance to meet him, that they would have loved him.

As an adult, Emma had various jobs and businesses of her own. She and John opened The Hilltop which they sold and later opened Ingonish’s first sub shop. She was a cook at The Keltic Lodge, The Ingonish, and in her very own restaurant The Sherwood. Emma and her husband John also developed a subdivision in Ingonish. Later, they would move to British Columbia where she enjoyed working as a home support worker until retirement.

Emma and John shared a long happy life together. John was willing to follow Emma wherever it was that she wanted to go and do whatever she set her mind on doing. They loved to dance, hold hands on a walk or in the car and chat about their grandchildren. In later years, John loved to fix Emma a cup of coffee with honey at 10 am. Being married for over 60 years Emma and John experienced a few ups and downs but got through it together because of the love they had for one another. Their marriage was truly an inspiration.

Emma’s most memorable trips were always travelling through Canada and the United States with her husband. Until their 80s, Emma and John travelled from the West Coast to the East Coast often to work on their little cabin on the land they owned in Ingonish. It was their hope to share this cabin with their children and grandchildren.

Emma was a wonderful mother to all her children. They have vivid memories of the smell of her homemade bread, the taste of her oatcakes, and her delicious apple pie. No one could make an apple pie like Emma. She always seemed surprised that people would travel all the way from Sydney just to have a slice. Other memories of Emma include teaching her children how to play baseball, telling them to win no matter what, and wrapping them up in a towel after getting out of the ocean or lake at the end of a day swimming. And one must not forget the tea, Emma loved to have a cup of tea and loved for others to join her. Tea time will never be the same without her.

Emma is survived by her 4 sons John MacKrous (Kathy) of Calgary, AB, Andrew Fraser MacKrous (Candace) of Calgary, AB, Douglas MacKrous (Karen) of Cochrane, AB, Bruce MacKrous (Alyssa) of Langford BC; and daughter Penny Anaka (David) of Cochrane, AB; 12 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Life will be held on a beautiful summer’s day in Ingonish, on Cape Breton Island, NS. Further details are to be announced at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to Flo Simpson, Funeral Director

Cochrane Country Funeral Home – cochrane@piersons.ca 403-932-1039 To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Emma Jane Mackrous, please visit our flower store.