Lila Bernadette Schwartz

It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Lila Bernadette “Bonnie” Schwartz, who passed away on August 25, 2026, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born October 25, 1957, in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Bonnie was the daughter of the late Jean and Donald Schwartz. She spent time living throughout the Valley, Dartmouth and Halifax, but Lower Sackville was her home for the last 40 years. She was also predeceased by her late husband, Glen MacPherson and niece Amanda Schwartz. Bonnie was, above all else, a mom and grandmother. Her family was what she was most proud of, and to Lorena, she was simply the best mom anyone could ask for. She leaves behind her daughter Lorena, grandchildren Kayla (Chris) and Chase, her sister-in-law Brenda, nieces, nephew, and many extended family members and friends who loved her dearly. She also leaves behind her “healing family” — the incredible people she met during her final nine weeks in the hospital. Nurses, doctors, caregivers, patients and friends who started as strangers but became part of her family, sharing laughs, tears, kindness and countless moments along the way. They will forever be a part of Bonnie’s story. Bonnie worked various jobs throughout her life, most recently with Quill. She also spent many years volunteering at her daughter’s schools, always finding ways to be involved and help out. She was a woman who loved the simple things: her Timmies tea, watching TLC and Judge Judy, bingo, and her love of dolphins. And if you knew Bonnie, you knew how much she loved dogs. Her dog Oreo wasn’t just a pet — she was her baby. Bonnie had a great sense of humour and always had a joke ready. She loved making people laugh, and her ability to find humour in life will be one of the many things her family and friends will remember most. Bonnie fought a long and difficult battle with cancer and renal disease. She fought hard, she loved hard, and she never stopped being herself. “Fuck cancer” She will be missed more than words can say, but her jokes, her laughter, her stubbornness, her love and the memories she gave us will live on forever. Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our Bonnie. Bonnie left us with one final message — that she had no regrets. Those words will stay with her family forever. “No regrets” And knowing Bonnie, she wouldn’t want us to remember only the sadness. She’d want us to laugh, tell the stories, make the jokes, love our people, and live our lives without regrets. A service celebrating Bonnie’s life and others will be held on September 23 at 7:00 p.m. with the Palliative Care Unit/Renal Unit Annual Memorial Service at Sackawa in Lower Sackville. A Celebration of Life for Bonnie will follow on September 26 at 5:00 p.m. at Brown Hall in Beaverbank, where family and friends are invited to drop on by that evening to share stories, laugh, cry, and remember Bonnie the way she would want to be remembered.

Lila Bernadette Schwartz

October 25, 1957 - August 25, 2026