Obituary of Rhoda MacFadgen
It is with great sadness that the family of Rhoda MacFadgen announces her passing on March 30, 2026. Born October 22, 1930, in Toronto, Ontario, Rhoda was the only child of Elsie and Edmund Curtis. In her early years, Rhoda attended ten different schools before settling in Sydney for her final two years at Sydney Academy. No matter where she went, she made friends easily and became actively involved in her surroundings.
While in Cape Breton, Rhoda met the love of her life, Lloyd MacFadgen. Together, they built a life filled with love, partnership, and shared passions, raising their children Dannie, Roseann, and Reta.
Rhoda dedicated much of her life to volunteer work. She was deeply involved with Girl Guides, serving as both a leader and later as Commissioner. She held leadership roles, including President, with the English Springer Spaniel Club of Canada and the Cape Breton Kennel Club, and was an active member of the Cape Breton German Shepherd Club. Rhoda also contributed to the Glace Bay Historical Society, where she arranged guest speakers, including her former classmate, Premier John Buchanan. Through St. John Ambulance’s Therapy Dog Program, Rhoda and her beloved dog Beau, were recognized by the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia for completing over 600 visits to nearby nursing homes.
An avid reader, Rhoda was a member of a book club and later started a knitting group, through which she lovingly created countless small hats for premature babies, many of which were donated to maternity wards.
Rhoda often shared a story that reflected both her sense of humour and her lifelong connection to shooting sports. As the daughter of an English army marksman who grew up shooting in Norfolk and on the moors of Scotland, she had experience with firearms from a young age. When Lloyd, an accomplished deer hunter, once asked if she had ever shot a rifle, she replied that she had not. Taking her at her word, he brought her out to the woods to teach her—only to watch in amazement as she hit every target dead centre. When he questioned her, she simply replied, “Never—only shotguns.” It was, as they would say, a match made in heaven.
Rhoda was also deeply involved in family business ventures. She supported Lloyd in operating a local bakery he started with his father, and together they later founded Tartan Bakery in Glace Bay. The business grew to employ over 30 people and became well known across Cape Breton Island for its quality products.
Even in retirement, Rhoda remained driven and curious. Finding retirement unfulfilling, she returned to school to study computer programming and went on to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Glace Bay, where she helped modernize operations by computerizing the laundry and housekeeping departments. Upon retiring again at age 65, she continued her entrepreneurial spirit by starting Puppy Kindergarten, a business that gained national attention.
A lifelong passion shared by Rhoda and Lloyd was their work with dogs. Through MacFadgen’s Kennels, a Canadian Kennel Club-registered business, they bred, trained, showed, and sold championship-quality English Springer Spaniels and German Shepherds.
Rhoda spent the last ten years of her life at a retirement residence outside of Halifax, where she remained as engaged as ever. She took part in activities, contributed to the resident council, and continued knitting hats for the IWK maternity unit—small gifts that continue to bring warmth and comfort to families.
Rhoda's family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the management and staff of Whitehills for their compassionate and dedicated care.
Rhoda is survived by her son Daniel (Renda), her daughters Roseann (Lorn) and Reta (Vivek), as well as her grandchildren Curtis, Rajeev, and Raman, and great-grandchildren Mira and Dannie.
In lieu of flowers, Rhoda would have appreciated donations to any of the charities she supported throughout her life. A celebration of life will be held at a later date in her adopted home of Glace Bay.
