Hope Billard

Margaret Hope (MacMichael) Billard, RN: passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at the age of 98. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Albert Calvin Billard. She is survived by her son, Samuel Calvin Billard (Joanne) of Toronto; grandson Alan Calvin Billard of Toronto; granddaughter Margaret “Maggie” Billard Cosgrave (Travis) of Toronto; and great-granddaughter, Milo Anne Billard Cosgrave. She was predeceased by her siblings: Evelyn Rose (Alexander), Lorne MacMichael (Gladys), Jessie Horne (Reginald), James “Jim” MacMichael, Albert MacMichael, Edith Haverstock (Donald), and John MacMichael.  She is survived by three sisters-in-law, Grace, Gloria and Betty.

Hope grew up in Gays River, Nova Scotia, on the farm with her seven siblings. She was determined to finish high school and attend stenography school in Halifax. She then began her nursing training, and graduated in 1949 from the Victoria General Hospital School of Nursing. While working in the VG Hospital, she met Albert. He went to practice in Inverness, Cape Breton, and it was there that they were married on October 31, 1952. Their son, Sam, was born in Albany, New York, while Albert was doing his surgical residency. They quickly returned to Canada and eventually Albert set up his surgical practice in Bathurst, NB, where Hope worked alongside him for many years. Upon retirement, they settled back in Halifax, where she spent the rest of her life. 

She was very proud of her family and of her Scottish and Irish heritage. She loved to listen to bagpipes at volume in small, stone churches. She was an avid golfer, bridge player, and rug hooker. She was an excellent baker and gourmet cook (Albert liked good food) and she was also very funny — she would always tell you exactly what she thought and was fiercely independent. Granny Mike, as she was known to her grandkids, will be missed terribly by her family, who are grateful they had so long with her. 

Cremation has taken place, under the supervision of Personal Care Cremations, and she has been interred with Albert at the Cathedral Church of All Saints in Halifax.  A celebration of life will be held later in the summer.

DONATIONS

Donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Women for Music Society.