Aline Beatrice McNeill

McNEILL, Aline Beatrice born on March 5, 1926 passed away on February 24, 2026 just 9 days short of her 100th birthday. Mom passed peacefully in Sechelt Hospital with family by her side. 

Mom was born in Woodstock, N.B. to Otto and Anna Gray. Mom had an older brother David. 

She lived on her family’s dairy farm, graduated from high school and became a teacher. In 1946, Mom moved to BC with her family. She taught school for a few years, and eventually became a secretary at Martin Paper in New Westminster where she met Jim McNeill. Aline and Jim were married in 1955 and built a home in Sunshine Hills in Delta, BC. They raised three children and made many memories over the next 20 years. While they subsequently divorced and Jim re-married, they were good friends when Jim passed in 2020. 

Mom worked for the Delta School Board as a school secretary and made lifelong friendships during those years. For over 45 years, this group of secretaries kept in touch and met socially.  Mom valued their friendship. In 1986 Mom bought her lot in Porpoise Bay and started to build. 

In 1990, she retired to the Coast and kept herself busy volunteering for the Festival of the Written Arts, Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre, and for several years was a travel ambassador on the ferry. Mom was an avid bridge player and always looked forward to hosting Tuesday afternoon bridge with “the girls”. She regularly attended Aquafit at the Sechelt pool until the age of 94.   

Mom is survived by her three children, son, Jim (Wendy) and daughters, Charlene (Kerry) and Leslie. She was a very proud grandmother to her 5 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. She adored having her grandchildren visit her and was instrumental in teaching some of them how to drive as she proudly drove her car until age 95, after passing her driver’s road test the year before. She loved to cook and bake with her grandchildren. Mom was pre-deceased by her niece Dorothy with whom she was very close.

The family is so happy to have been able to support Mom as she lived in her own home until the age of 99. Her two cats, Nina and Nico were her roommates and constant companions. We are grateful to mygrandfatherscat.ca in helping us find their second forever home.

Mom was a patient at Sechelt Hospital for nearly a year. The family is very appreciative to the staff of Sechelt Hospital for the care and support that Mom received on the third floor for five months as she healed and rehabilitated from her fractures. We are forever grateful to the staff of 2-South at Sechelt Hospital for caring for Mom during the last 6 months of her life. It brought us great peace of mind to see the care Mom received; we knew she always felt settled and comfortable.

Over the years, Mom was supported by the SC Healthcare Auxiliary as they provided equipment for her home needs through the community loan cupboard and as a resident of 2-South, Mom enjoyed many of the activities funded by SCHA. We also thank SCHA volunteers who regularly visited Mom when they dropped by to chat and spend time with her. It always made a difference to her day.

If desired, donations may be made to sunshinecoasthealthcareauxiliary.com or mygrandfatherscat.ca or a cause close to you. We will miss you Mom!

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