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Cecelia Ann Hegler McDonald
( January 12, 1948 - February 10, 2015 )
Cecelia Ann Hegler McDonald, Affectionately known as “Cece”, age 67, of Lowesville, passed away February 10, 2015 in Lincolnton, NC, from heart failure.

Cecelia was born January 12, 1948, in Charlotte, NC, to Al and Dot Hegler. She was raised in Charlotte and graduated from Garinger High School. She was married to James M. McDonald on May 29, 1964.

Aside from being a loving Wife, Mother and Grand Mother, she was a Nanny, caretaker and chef, for many countless families and their children, whom she held very dear to her heart, even after her duties to them had ended. Those children and families cherished her as did her own.

Cecelia was the consummate planner of all family holidays and celebrations, to which she paid attention to every detail, be it decoration or menu of food and desserts. Her love of cooking drove her to be a self- taught baker, cake decorator and pastry chef. She catered many events, including weddings, baby showers, birthdays, and company functions for family and friends, as well as Holidays.

Christmas was her favorite holiday, and she toiled for many months in preparation for the occasion. Every menu was well planned and executed beautifully. She read cookbooks and owned a “Library” full of them. Her home was filled with the scents of cookies, cakes, and pastries throughout the holidays. She lavishly decorated her home, her Christmas tree had to be “perfect” and it always contained her most sentimental ornaments. She is known affectionately as not only “Mrs. Merry Christmas”, but most sentimentally... The REAL “Santa Claus”. Making every holiday or birthday special for those she loved was her passion. Beyond special occasions, it did not have to be a special event for her to cook an enormous meal and invite her entire family. She always had enough food to feed an “Army”.

Cecelia was an animal lover and nearly every pet acquired in her lifetime was one that she rescued or found wandering lost and hungry. She took them in, nursed them back to health, cared for them and spoiled them as if they were her own children. She instilled this value in her own children as well. Every pet was a cherished family member. She loved many, many furry children in her lifetime and felt the sorrow very deeply when they were lost to her. None were ever forgotten, and she spoke to them in her prayers every day without fail.

Cecelia loved and cared for her family and attended their every need thoughtfully. None of us, in times of need, ever went without. One did not have to ask if they had a need... She knew it and provided it without fail.

Each of her children and grandchildren were cherished, spoiled and loved and held a very special place in her heart. She spoke of them proudly and thoughtfully and prayed for each one, by name, every evening before she rested her own head.

She was a loving, sentimental and faithful Wife to her only love, Jim, for over 50 years. She cared for him and their children always first and foremost, without regard for overworking herself. Their devotion and commitment to each other was an inspiration to us all.

She is dearly and longingly missed by each of us, but we are comforted in knowing that she is with The Lord, her health is fully restored, and that she is reunited with those that she missed so dearly for so many years.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, James M. McDonald, Sr, a daughter, Jennifer Hasian of Gastonia, NC, a daughter Karen Bowles and her husband, Alvin of Gastonia, NC, a daughther Susan Sutphin and her husband, Todd of Iron Station, NC. A son, Bill McDonald of the home. Her grand chilidren, Max Hasian, Kurt Hasian, Raven Hasian, Kourtney Bowles, Kennedy Bowles, Autumn Read and Bode Sutphin.

Mrs. McDonald is preceded in death by her father Alfred Lee Hegler, her Mother Dorothy Simpson Hegler, her first child, a son, James Marian McDonald, Jr, and many pets whom she loved dearly, most recently, her beloved “Remy”.

The family will receive friends Saturday, February 21, 2015, from 5 pm to 6:45 pm, Memorial service is at 7 pm, at Warlick Funeral Home, 125 Dave Warlick Dr, Lincolnton, NC 28092.

In lieu of flowers, memorials made be made to:
The Holy Angels, in the form of a monetary donation or personal volunteer work:  704.825.4161
6600 Wilkinson Boulevard
PO Box 710
Belmont, NC 28012-0710
 http://www.holyangelsnc.org/

Posted on 17 Feb 2015


 

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