George “Owen” Hedd

April 13, 1945 – October 12, 2025

Hedd, Owen — Reserve Mines, NS — son of the late Raymond and Cecilia (AuCoin)

Hedd, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2025, at the Cape Breton Regional

Hospital, with his children by his side.

Owen is survived by his daughter Belinda (Stuart) Ferguson, Bedford, NS, and son

Brian (Anna-Maria) Hedd, Moncton, NB. Grandchildren Paige Ferguson, Emma and

Jacob LeBlanc, and Olivier and Simon Gaudet. Siblings Bill (Shirley) Hedd, Russell

Hedd, Elaine (Ben) Haighway, and Donna Hedd-Cann. He will be greatly missed by

the mother of his children, Norma AuCoin, special friend Lina Perfect, his devoted

caregiver Jerry, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, Owen was predeceased by his sister Margaret “Anne”

Hedd and daughter-in-law Sylvie Gallant.

If you ever met Owen, you’d remember him. With a twinkle in his eye and a knack

for turning any moment into a story, Owen could fill a room with laughter, song,

and the kind of good-natured teasing that made everyone feel like family.

He never met a stranger - just friends he hadn’t gotten to know yet. He might not

have remembered your name, but he’d never forget your face. Owen had a way of

making people feel seen, heard and cared for - like you mattered and he meant it.

He showed up for people - always. Whether it was family, a neighbour, or someone

down on their luck, Owen could be counted on to lend a hand, share a laugh, or

quietly make sure a need was met. His support for those he loved ran deep, and his

generosity of spirit extended far beyond his own circle.

Owen started his working life doing what he loved most - fixing anything with a

motor. He spent many years as an auto body technician in local garages before

joining the Province of Nova Scotia at Addiction Services in Sydney. What began as

a maintenance job soon turned into something more when a departmental shuffle

led him into a new position as a counsellor. It was there that he found a new calling, helping others with the same compassion, humour, and honesty that shaped every part of his life.

Throughout his career, he was deeply involved in union work and advocacy. He

served as a shop steward with both the Canadian Auto Workers and the Nova Scotia

Government Employees Union, later becoming an executive member of each. His

dedication and leadership also extended to the Canadian Labour Congress, where

he continued to be a strong and respected voice for workers’ rights, and to the

Branch 5 Royal Canadian Legion in Donkin, where he found a shared sense of

community that meant a great deal to him.

After retirement, Owen returned to his love of cars - spending time in the garage

with friends and especially enjoying rebuilding classic vehicles alongside his cousin Blaine. For as long as his body allowed, Owen could be found fixing, tinkering, or lending a hand to someone who needed it.

A special thank you to all of the healthcare professionals who cared for Owen

following his accident almost four years ago and again during this recent brief

illness.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of T.J. Tracey Cremations & Burial

Specialists, 370 Reserve Street, Glace Bay, NS. A graveside farewell will be held on

Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 3:00 pm in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, McLeod’s Road.

Following will be a Celebration of Life at the Reserve Pensioners Hall, Reserve

Mines, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, where laughter, music, and memories will surely flow

- just as he would have wanted. For those wishing to honour Owen’s memory,

donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or a charity of one’s

choice.

Owen lived his life full of heart, humour, and generosity - a true original whose

presence made this world a little brighter and whose stories will be told for

generations to come.