Obituary of Mabel Jeanette Hefler

Mabel Jeanette Hefler (Buchanan) of Hantsport passed away peacefully at Dykleland Lodge in Windsor, with her only son, Darrell, by her side on October 25, 2025. Born on PEI on July 11, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Warren and Myrtle Buchanan.

Jeanette was always a kind lady with a great sense of humor, a very positive outlook on life and on people, never judging or ever saying an unkind word about anyone.  She was a hard worker however, she was extraordinary to say the least. She enjoyed her domestic life and being known as a supportive wife, great cook and wonderful mother to her two children. Occasionally, when time permitted, she would love to play a game of auction 45’s.

Jeanette liked “going hunting” with Murray, and they never came back without a deer or two.  She enjoyed preparing the meat for the winter months and they both carried great pride in their team work and hunting abilities, always having their freezers full for winter. In her words “they were the good old times”, cooking up a feast of deer meat for their workers and welcomed guests.

Jeannette was not only a wonderful mother and friend; she was a business partner supporting her husband in all his business innovations. In the early years she did the books for Hefler Trucking, and if a truck was broken you could find her next to Murray holding a flashlight or passing him tools so the trucks and trailers could be on the road as quick as possible. Their drivers loved having Jeanette’s "hardy mans" breakfast with deer steak, bacon, eggs and homemade bread early mornings before they hit the road. Hard to believe such a busy woman always kept a very clean house!

Jeanette and Murray ran two dairy farms in Hantsport, she was often found out helping milk the cows, clean the barns and in haying season she would be there to make sure their workers got paid (bookkeeper for the farms) and that they got fed every night before they went home. Her and Murray also opened a small grocery store in Scots Bay where they ran it together, seven days a week for five years. After that, they got into selling hardwood.

Jeanette is survived by; her son, Darrell Murray, brother, Randolph (Jackie) Buchanan, sisters, Gloria (Robert) O’Rourke, Dianne (Robert) Cain, granddaughter Kelly Elizabeth (Robert) Veinot, greatgrandchildren, Emma Grace (Luke) Pinsent, Morgan Adelaide, Ruby June, Charlie William, Josephine Deborah and Mabel Jocelyne Veinot.

In addition to her parents, Jeanette was predeceased by; her husband of 74 years, Murray Hefler, daughter, Deborah Ann (Ralph) MacLean, sister, Nelsena MacDougall, brothers, Windsor, Victor, Vincent, and Blair Buchanan.

Cremation has taken place. An interment will be held at a later date in the St. John’s Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Belfast, PEI. Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home, Coldbrook Village Park Drive, Coldbrook, NS B4R1B9 (902) 679-2822.