Woodin, Mark Forrest – It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Mark Forrest Woodin, age 66 of Enfield. Mark passed away peacefully after a short but hard-fought battle with cancer on October 25, 2026, with his family by his side.
Mark was born in Upper Musquodoboit to parents, Leola (Smith) Woodin and the late Elwyn Woodin. He was the only son, growing up with three younger sisters, whom he loved to tease and torment.
From a young age, Mark learned the value of hard work and the importance of family.
He began working with his father in the drilling industry at just 16. His career allowed him to travel to many parts of Canada and the US, from northern Manitoba all the way to Georgia. He built many long-lasting friendships and kept in touch with many of those coworkers as recently as last week. Although his career allowed him to travel it also kept him away from home more than he may have liked. This made the moments when he was home with his family extra special. His wife and daughter always looked forward to his homecoming, often counting the days to his return.
Mark met the love of his life, Shawna while working in Pictou County in 1984. They spent 40 incredible years together. They built a life filled with wonderful memories; from their time living in Montreal to camping trips, canoeing, skiing, motorcycle rides, travelling, and their annual trips down south. They shared a special love for music, attending numerous concerts together over the years.
Mark was immensely proud of his only daughter, Sydney. As an only child, they spent a lot of time together and shared a very special bond. Mark and Sydney shared many memories over the years; road trips, camping, bike rides, trips to the camp, soccer games, and sharing a whole lot laughs and silly moments. He was especially proud to walk Sydney down the aisle last October and officially welcome her husband, Brendan into the family. He was more than excited to finally have a son.
Mark had two passions in life; his Harley Davidson motorcycle and NASCAR racing. Sunday afternoons were reserved for the race. For his birthday in 2019, Shawna took him to the Daytona 500, a bucket-list trip that put him in the stands watching his favourite drivers in person after years of cheering them on from the couch.
As for the Harley, Mark was a devoted rider, with one condition; the weather had to cooperate. He enjoyed many bike rides, often with Shawna on the back. He once took a trip around the Cabot Trail, which shocked everyone who knew him, because he was famously a “fair weather” biker. He’d be checking the forecast days in advance, and any chance of rain meant the bike stayed put. That may be because he spent far more time cleaning it than riding it. The same pride went into his perfectly manicured lawn and spotless vehicles.
In 2021, Mark retired from drilling and moved on to what he called his “fun” job; driving the Zamboni at the local rink. He loved being out in the community, meeting new people, seeing all the kids, and watching hockey. His favourite shifts were Thursday nights, when he could keep an eye on Shawna’s curling match.
Above all, Mark will be remembered for his sense of humour. He had a quick wit and could never resist a joke, a little tease, or a bit of silliness. He always kept everyone around him laughing. Those who knew him will remember the joy and laughter he brought into any room.
Mark will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Shawna (Forward); his daughter, Sydney (Brendan); his mother, Leola; his sisters, Lynne (Miles), Shanda (Ralph) and Kara (Danny); his brother-in-law, Scott (Kim); his sister-in-law, Krista (Wade); his father-in-law, Victor; and his only living uncle, Ronald Smith. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He held a special place in his heart for his nieces and nephews and took great pride in being Uncle Mark. He was predeceased by his father, Elwyn, and his mother-in-law, Sharon Forward.
The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff of East Hants Colchester Health Centre, particularly Dr. Maryam and the palliative care unit under Dr. Courtney Smith and her team. The exceptional care, compassion, and kindness shown to Mark and our family brought comfort during an incredibly difficult time, and for that, we will always be grateful.
Cremation has taken place.
A Celebration of Life will take place in Riverview United Church, 760 Highway #2, Elmsdale, NS on Sunday, November 1st at 2:30 pm. A gathering for friends and family will follow upstairs in the church community hall.
Arrangements are under the direction of Arimathea Funeral Cooperative, Upper Musquodoboit.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mark’s memory may be made to support lung cancer at Canadian Cancer Society.
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