Obituary for Cecile “Cis” Bernadette (Caron) MacDonald Mckinney: Long-Time Co-Owner of Almy House Country Store and Christmas Fantasy in Portsmouth

Cecile “Cis” Bernadette Caron MacDonald McKinney, 96, passed away on May 14, 2016 after a brief illness.

Cis was born in Providence, RI on March 18, 1920 to the late Edouard and Pearl Caron. She was the older sister of the late Ed Caron, USAF, who died in Korea in 1952 during a B52 explosion and with whom she was very close. Also preceding her in death is her first husband, Evan MacDonald, her son, Robert “Bob” MacDonald, and her second husband, Edgar F. “Ed” McKinney. She is survived by her son, Evan Jr. and his wife Betty, her son, John and his wife Teresa; her grandchildren, Karen Phillips, Denise Sullivan and her husband Sean, Lochiel MacDonald and his lady Stephanie Diomandes, Rachelle DiMedia Whatmough and her husband Garyn, Colin MacDonald, and Megan MacDonald. She leaves great-grandchildren, Mia and Olivia Phillips, Shane Sullivan, Kevan Sullivan, Jessica Sullivan, Lochiel MacDonald, Jr, her step-daughter, Joanne Upham and her husband Louis, step-son, Ronald McKinney and family, and many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

Cis was educated at St. Charles School in Providence and St. Joseph’s in Newport. To her regret, she never made it to college, but as a lifelong learner, took many courses to further her education including her membership in the first American Red Cross volunteer nursing program during WWII in 1943. A city girl at heart, Cis’ self-proclaimed greatest accomplishment in life was raising her three boys with her husband Evan on a farm in Portsmouth, where she loved to cook and decorate. She always spoke fondly of her dear, late niece and nephew, Greta and Norman McHenry with whom she said, “we did it all!” from animal husbandry, to canning, to building a barn. Later in life, she was a broker for and Vice President of McKinney Real Estate with her late second husband Ed. In 1971, she and Ed bought and restored the former Almy home into the Almy House Country Store and Christmas Fantasy in Portsmouth, where they sold antiques, country store goods and Christmas items, and which became an institution in RI over its 30 year existence. She was extremely grateful and indebted to the many families and loyal friends that supported her and the Almy House and attributes her success to the wonderful local help that stayed with her over the years.

Cis was known as an avid antique collector and connoisseur and continued to share her knowledge of the field up until her death, even going to antique auctions as recent as April of this year. She was a beloved mother, grandma, nana and friend, and was preceded in death by and leaves many friends with whom she loved dearly. In good weather, she loved to sit on her porch and receive visitors, from dogs, to children, to friends; she enjoyed that time immensely.

Calling hours will held on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, RI.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI, followed by burial in St. Columba Cemetery, Brown’s Lane, Middletown, RI.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Meals on Wheels of RI, 70 Bath St., Providence, RI 02908, or at www.rimeals.org

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