Obituaries

It is with deep sadness we announce the peaceful death of John, in his 80th year, of North Saanich, BC. He died suddenly on June 6, 2015 and will be dearly missed by his wife Pat, two daughters Pamela and Bridget, two grandchildren Jack and Jesse, siblings Mayla, Paul, Keith and Karen and many other family and friends.

Funeral service to be held at Holy Trinity Church, 1319 Mills Rd, N. Saanich on Thursday, 18th June at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS PO Box 1269, STN K, Toronto, ON M4P 9Z9

A few words:

Once seen, never forgotten, John was Deep Cove’s ‘character’. His kindness to everyone in need was a secret between himself and his wallet. His joys were daughters Pamela, Bridget and grandchildren Jack and Jesse. The depth of his utter devotion to his wife Pat is something only she knows.

His ability to care for children and create a safe haven for them came from a deep love which he had for them. He marvelled always at their energy and antics and deeply appreciated their being – something which all children in his presence sensed and somehow felt better and cared about because of it. He treasured them and they knew it. This was perhaps his biggest gift to the world.

He saw this world on an intimate and respectful level, appreciating the smallest of creatures, every flower, every blade of grass……. demanding that all of those around him pay equal attention to everyday miracles. He entrenched that into his daughters and now his grandchildren, 9 and 13, are known to regularly call out to their mum to come and see the beautiful sky.

Sharing his sense of humour with his daughters and his wife was perhaps his biggest mistake, having then to spend a large portion of his life on the receiving end of many practical jokes, including un-noticed signs on his truck saying ‘Honk, I’m 60 today’ on a day that he had to drive up island and back. Many other such memorable pranks have gone down in the family story book.

Never really a drinker, he would still enjoy fine scotch, especially on a warm summer evening, sipping and chatting with a friend. He could definitely hold his own still sober whilst other’s would be perhaps the worst for wear. He was always the last man standing. He instilled in his daughters his love of poetry, music and all things English, as well of course as Christopher Robin, his favourite children’s poet, whom he would read to his daughters, as well as the many books of Beatrix Potter.

His heroes were Winston Churchill and Rudyard Kipling, A.A. Milne and Kahil Gibran. He was a contradiction and an opinionated one and perhaps that is why he was so proud of his hippy-jock grandson and outspoken granddaughter…true reflections of their adoring grandfather.