Obituary of Earle Alexander Trethewey

It’s with heavy hearts and great sorrow that we announce the passing of Earle Alexander Trethewey at age 58. Earle graduated from New Germany High School in 1976 and went on to study Electronics Nav Aids at Bridgewater Community College and received the Lieutenant Governor’s Award at graduation in 1977. Earle returned to school and graduated in 1982 from the Nova Scotia Institute Technology (NSIT) with a diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology. Dawn, his beloved wife, always teased him that it was destiny that he waited 4 years to attend NSIT to ensure he met her, the love of his life. Earle had many interests, with music and sports being two of the biggest. As a young drummer for the well-known south shore band Heat Wave, Earle and the band secured a large following and played dances, festivals and exhibitions in the area. Earle would often recount the story from the early years where as an under-age band member, he was required to leave the premises during the band’s breaks. And as a devoted and unwavering Maple Leafs fan, Earle wore the team’s colours with pride and hung onto hope for another cup. For over 30 years, Earle was employed at the Victoria General Hospital, working in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Division of Anatomic Pathology which fostered a passion for Electron Microscopy (EM). He retired after 32 years of service and returned to work in the EM laboratory on a casual basis. In his personal life, Earle and his wife Dawn settled in Williamswood where they caught the gardening bug. Earle quickly turned his hand to hardscaping and there wasn’t a granite rock that he didn’t appreciate so he was always able find the perfect spot for those he collected. All that drumming and working with rocks kept his Chiropractor busy with his pesky tennis elbow issues! Earle was proud of the garden and it was celebrated formally in Garden’s East Magazine and by those who simply stopped to admire its beauty. Earle was predeceased by his parents Roderick and Sylvia (nee Trethewey), a brother Royce Waterman and a sister Mary (nee Waterman) Ramey. He is survived by the love of his life Dawn (nee Barrett), a sister Bonnie (nee Waterman) Oickle (Ken) Maplewood, brother-in-laws Nelson Ramey of Maplewood, Michael (Darlene) Barrett of Fall River, special mother-in-law Patricia Barrett and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Dr. Cathy Connell and Shauna Thompson for their support and for allowing Dawn the time to devote love and care to Earle. Special thanks to the following hospital departments: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Coronary Care, Diagnostic Imaging, Cancer Care, 6A Thoracic Surgery and Palliative Care for their expertise and compassion. In memory of Earle, please take a minute to tell the special people in your lives how much they mean to you. Dawn will miss traveling their life journey together. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, Bedford (902) 835-4212. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 28 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm with a funeral service Thursday, June 29 at 6:30 pm both in St. John Anglican Church, 2187 Larry Uteck Blvd (west, formerly Kearney Lake Road), Bedford, NS. Private burial will occur at a later date. Memorial donations may be made in memory of Earle to the QEII Foundation. Please direct your contributions to the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine’s Electron Microscopy division, to be used for staff education. Expressions of sympathy for the family may be made by visiting: www.tjtracey.com