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Sep 7, 1943 - Jan 1, 2018
Dad died on New Years' Day, his family surrounding him with love at Hospice House as Ave Maria played.

Dad will be missed by everyone who met him. Especially missed by my Mom, Marieke, his wife of almost 49 years, and me, his daughter, Nikki, and his great son-in-law, Blaine.

He will be remembered as the "bestest" Opa by Mikayla and Luke. Dad will be dearly missed by his brothers; Earl and Sylvia, Ralph and Judy, and Randy and Jennifer. His two aunties, who were like sisters, Louise and Carol and Walt.

Dad was much loved by his second family, his in-laws, Annelies and Bill, Nico and Pat, Lidi and Eric, and Tom and Karen, as well as his many nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle John.

Dad was born in St. John's, Newfoundland and grew up in Little Heart's Ease. He lost his Mom when he was 13 and then became a mother to his baby brothers.

Dad joined the navy in 1965 and toured the world on the S.S. Bonaventure where he found his passion: helicopter engineering. He then spent 43 years doing what he loved.

Dad's love for all of us was evident to everyone who met him, he was constantly telling stories of me, and then his fabulous grandkids. His love for Mom was like a storybook, from meeting on a bus to their nearly 49 years' of marriage, their love was that of dreams.

Faith was so important to Dad even in his last days when he was receiving the sacrament he was responding to prayers almost until the end. He enjoyed being an usher and ringing the bells every Sunday for Mass.

Dad always greeted everyone with a big smile, a hug, and maybe even a kiss. Some people knew him as John, or Haffen, but to all the kids (young and old), he was Opa.

Thank you so much Dr. Dan Obedkoff, who was an amazing doctor and support for the whole family. Thank you also to ALL the staff at Hospice House who looked after not only Dad, but all of us.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish at 1:30 pm on Saturday January 6, followed by a reception/party (he loved his parties) at the Cove Lakeside Resort following Mass.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the SPCA as Dad loved all of his "woofer-pussy-kitties", to Hospice House for their exceptional care, or to Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, which was so close to his heart.

We miss you Dad, love you a bushel and a peck. XOXO



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