Obituary of Madelyn Pauline Hebb

HEBB, Madelyn Pauline – Age 93, Martins Brook, Lunenburg Co., passed away peacefully at home with her loving sons by her side on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Born on Heckman’s Island, she was a daughter of the late Aubrey and Florence (Walters) Heckman.

Madelyn’s life as a child and teenager was spent growing up on Heckman’s Island. Then, in 1951, after graduating from Maritime Business College in Halifax, Madelyn met her husband, Paul Hebb. Shortly thereafter, they got married, bought a house in Halifax where Paul had his own business of custom-made aluminum windows & doors. They also started their family which grew to 3 sons by 1960. Over many years Madelyn and her family had several dogs, cats, birds (budgie & raven), hamsters, guinea pigs & goldfish…  not to mention a jungle of house plants and a huge annual vegetable garden.

Deciding to move from Halifax to Lunenburg, they bought house and Paul relocated his business. However, with the emergence of mass-production of many construction products, Paul closed his custom-built window & door business. He then follow-up on a career as an electrician and Madelyn was hired as Divisional Secretary at National Sea Products where they were both employed. 

By this time, the children were growing up. The eldest, William, left home in 1971 to fulfill his lifelong dream to become an airline pilot, from which he is now retired and living close by in Garden Lots with his wife, Audrey. In 1978, their middle son Kenneth, while studying to be a marine biologist at Dalhousie University, was involved in a car accident which left him with a life altering brain injury. In 1980, their youngest son, Steven, also with National Sea Products, moved to Halifax, taking a position in their Work Study Department at Head Office. Then deciding on a career change, he moved to France to study French, which lead him back to Canada to live and work in Montreal.

About a year after Kenneth’s accident, Madelyn paused her career at National Sea to devote all her time and energy to Kenneth’s care. She continued this love and care with the support of many wonderful local homecare assistants over the years, practically up to the moment she died.

After Paul’s death in 1989, Steven left his career in Montreal and moved back to the family home to assist his mother in caring for Kenneth and the property. Then, at her youthful age of 57, they started a business in the tourism industry. Together they established Prince’s Inlet Retreat on their beautiful property in which Madelyn maintained a key role until she retired at the ripe old age of 85…

Surviving, are her sons, William (Audrey), Garden Lots; Kenneth and Steven, both of Martins Brook; sister, Charlotte (George) Dewling, Lunenburg; brother, Donald (Elaine) Heckman, Heckman’s Island; and several nieces and nephews.

Madelyn is predeceased by her parents, Aubrey & Florence, husband, Paul and brother, Harry Heckman.

A private family gathering will be held with burial to follow in the Martin’s Brook Cemetery, Martin’s Brook. No flowers please, donations may be made to the Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia, SHAID Animal Shelter, or a charity of choice. Arrangements entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home, 35 York Street, Bridgewater, where on-line condolences and messages may be made by visiting www.sweenysfuneralhome.com.