Iseabail ni'n Bhaltair Aonghais

Isabel Fortune was born May 1, 1914 in Inverness and raised in Rear Judique Chapel, Inverness County. She was one of fourteen children born to Walter Fortune and Maggie Mae MacDonell of River Denys Mountain. Her Fortune ancestors originally came from the fishing village in Wexford, Ireland.

Isabel married Raymond D. MacArthur of Port Hood, and they had one son, Raymond. Raymond Sr. passed away from pneumonia on Good Friday in April of 1949, just four months before their son was born. Isabel later married Angus “the Piper” MacMaster of Rear Judique Chapel.

A hardworking and resilient woman, Isabel worked at the Skye Motel in Port Hawkesbury and also served as a housekeeper for Father Hughie D. MacDonald in Port Hawkesbury.

She was raised in a fully Gaelic-speaking community and had a deep love for Gaelic music. Isabel was known for her beautiful voice and often sang at concerts and house parties, helping to keep the tradition alive.

She passed away on March 3, 2006, and is laid to rest in St. Peter’s Parish Cemetery in Port Hood.