Saturday, September 19, 2020
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I have cherished memories of Uncle John. Of always feeling welcomed and included and loved. Of morning pots of coffee and the best egg, ham and cheese on an English muffin breakfast. Always delicious and always made with love. Of playing darts and putting holes in the wall in the kitchen on Peach Street. Of endless pots of coffee and packs of Export A cigarettes in that same kitchen. Of being taught to play Tarbish (he suffered me as a partner many nights, but Jean also shared in that suffering just as often, Of arrangements made with cousins Kevin and Keith and JoJo for boat rides and fishing adventures even when it made him sick. Of clam digging and lobster boils. Of drives around the Cabot Trail and visits to the Fort of Louisbourg. Of visits to us in Ontario. Of his joy in the celebration at family weddings and his comfort in the sorrow at family funerals. Of dances at the legion, and what a rug he and Jean could cut. My goodness could they dance! Of his teasing and his wonderful hearty laughter. Of Bingoo games. Of his and my place in the row of injured players after a rather fun game of croquet baseball in the backyard in Cornwall. Of him meeting my husband and children and making them feel as loved and as welcomed as I ever was. Of hugs hello and hugs goodbye. Had I known the last time we hugged goodbye was our last one, and boy do I ever remember that hug, I would have hugged him harder and so much longer. If you measure a man by how he loved and was loved, Uncle John was a giant.
Jean, John, Jennifer, David, Melissa and family, I can only offer my words of comfort and condolence right now. But when the time is right we will all sit around the kitchen table, reminisce, tell stories and celebrate the life of this wonderful man who wasn't on this earth near long enough. Hugs with much love and sympathy to you all, xo
