Cape Breton Deaths December 16, 2010 Thursday There are 4 obituaries published for today. Ernest 'Butchie' Penny Maria Findella (Harrietha) Payne Catherine Ann Cholock Jack Columbus ******************************************************************************************************* Ernest 'Butchie' Penny Born in: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away in: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away on: 15/12/2010 It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our dear brother and uncle, Ernest 'Butchie' George Penny, on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, at the Northside General Hospital, North Sydney. Born in North Sydney, Ernest was the son of the late John 'Jack' and Rena (Lynch) Penny. He was a member of St. Joseph Church, North Sydney. For a number of years, Butchie attended the Adult Learning Centre on Haley Street. He enjoyed reading comics, singing and listening to music. Butchie is survived by one brother, William 'Bill' (Rita) Penny, North Sydney and will be sadly missed by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Georgina Sakalauskas-Smith, Minnie Penny, Louise Clements, Cecilia Evoy and brother, Eddy Lynch. The family would like to express a special thank you to Dr. John Kirkpatrick and the staff of 4 West at the Northside General Hospital, for the care given to 'Butchie' during the past number of years. There will be no visitation by request. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at St. Joseph Church North Sydney, with Rev. Jake Andrea officiating. Burial to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery North Sydney. Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, North Sydney. ****************************************************** Maria Findella (Harrietha) Payne Born in: Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away in: Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away on: 13/12/2010 Maria Payne, 93, of MacAulay Avenue, Glace Bay, passed away Monday, Dec. 13, 2010, at the Glace Bay Hospital. Born in Glace Bay, she was the daughter of the late Andrew and Lucy (Murphy) Harrietha. Maria was a member of St. Anthony's Church, Glace Bay. She was employed for several years in the maintenance department at schools in Glace Bay and Uculet, B.C. Maria was a very gentle and compassionate lady who was very faithful to her religion. She loved to skate and dance and was an avid hockey and baseball fan. Maria had a special place in her heart for animals. She is survived by her adopted sons, Michael John and George; brother, Stephen Harrietha, Glace Bay; and nephew, Michael Harrietha (Carol Anne), with whom she resided. Maria was predeceased by her husband, John Payne, four brothers, Edward, Gualbert, Francis, Colin in infancy, six sisters, Annie, Magdalen, Regina and Gloria, Rose Angela, Elizabeth in infancy. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home in Glace Bay. As an expression of sympathy for Maria, memorial donations in her memory may be made to the SPCA. Online condolences to the family can be expressed at www.vjmcgillivray.ca. ******************************************************* Catherine Ann Cholock Born in: Southwest Margaree, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away in: Whitney Pier, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away on: 14/12/2010 It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mother and grandmother, Catherine Ann Cholock at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital on Dec. 14, 2010. Born in Southwest Margaree, N.S., Catherine was the daughter of the late Angus R. and Mary Flora MacLellan. Catherine worked at the steel plant hospital for many years. She loved to spend time with her family. Catherine is survived by her children, Bernard Cholock, Halifax, Florence (Stuart) MacKenzie, Sydney River, Louise Cholock, Halifax, Michael Cholock, with whom she resided in Whitney Pier; and one grandson, Chris MacKenzie, Sydney River. Besides her parents, Catherine was predeceased by her husband, Samuel, brothers, Alec and Dougald MacLellan. Visitation and funeral service to honour the late Catherine Ann Cholock will be held at the Pier Community Funeral Home, 1092 Victoria Rd. (entrance on Church Street) on Friday, Dec. 17, 2010. A gathering of family and friends will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with funeral service to follow at 2 p.m. in the All Faith Chapel with Fr. Errol MacDonald officiating. Light refreshments will be shared during the visitation. Interment will take place in Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks. Family flowers only, donations in Catherine's memory may be made to the VON. The family would like to send a special thank you to Roxanne Trevors, Dr. Chris Lawand, EHS paramedics and the City Wide cab driver. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of the Pier Community Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.pierfuneralhome.com. ******************************************************* Jack Columbus Passed away in: Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada Passed away on: 15/12/2010 Former Sydney broadcaster, Jack Columbus died on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010, in the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney, at the age of 64. He was the son of the late Hyman and Freda (Hamburg) of New Waterford. Jack is survived by his wife, Sharon (Lahey) and his three children, Erin (Jason) Doyle, Lauren and Jeffrey (Jody) Columbus; sisters, Hinda (David) MacLean of Antigonish, N.S. and Brenda (Kevin) Steiger of New Waterford, N.S. He is also survived by grandchildren, Briony and Donovan Doyle; his mother-in-law, Cecilia Lahey and lifelong friend, Alan Leith, as well as numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. Jack was predeceased by his brothers, Alexander and Michael. He was a graduate of Central High School in New Waterford and attended the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton and Saint John, N.B. Jack began his broadcasting career with CHER Radio in Sydney shortly after the station launched in 1966. His career included radio and television duties at CJCB-AM and FM and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporations radio and television services in Sydney. Jack was an active member of the amateur radio fraternity and held licenses VE1AIJ and VE1XT. Memorable contacts included those with the King of Jordan and the orbiting space station, as well as with thousands of amateur radio operators around the world. He was an active member of the Congregation Sons of Israel in New Waterford and the Temple Sons of Israel in Sydney. Jack was the Cape Breton representative of the Atlantic Jewish Council and active in Holocaust Education. He enjoyed spending time with his much loved grandchildren and with his late brother, Michael and family in Israel. Jack took a keen interest in the current political landscape and the sporting world with a particular passion for the Montreal Canadiens. Visitation will take place at Sydney Memorial Chapel on Thursday after 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held in the chapel on Friday 2 p.m., with Rabbi David Ellis officiating. Interment in the Hebrew Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jack's memory to the Cape Breton Cancer Centre. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca. ****** EXTRA from the CBPost ********** BY ERIN POTTIE CAPE BRETON POST epottie@cbpost.com Sydney broadcaster dies after lengthy battle with illness SYDNEY - A Sydney broadcaster with a passion for delivering news important to Cape Bretoner's has died after battling illness for some time. Jack Columbus, who hosted the former Canadian Broadcasting Corp. program Cape Breton Report, died at hospital in Sydney, Wednesday morning. Friends close to the 64-year-old say he had been undergoing treatment for cancer. Columbus got his start in broadcasting at CHER Radio in Sydney shortly after the station launched in 1966. His work experience also includes stints at CJCB AM and FM and at CBC radio and television services in Sydney. Columbus was also an active member of the amateur radio fraternity and held licences VE1AIJ and VE1XT. "I did work with Jack in both radio and television," said Hal Higgins, a local CBC Nova Scotia broadcaster. "He was a real pleasure to work with because he was such an enthusiast about covering news around Cape Breton. He certainly had a passion for it. He was great fun to work with - he didn't take himself too seriously, but he did take his work seriously." Higgins said a lot of people admired Columbus for his varied background in local reporting both in radio and television. He was also perceived as a family man and gentleman, who was always interested in goings-on in the community. "He worked at all the stations in Sydney at the time when there were only three stations," said Higgins. " We'll miss him, and we're very saddened, all of us, by his passing." Columbus was also an active member of Cape Breton's dwindling Jewish community as a member of the Congregation Sons of Israel in New Waterford and the Temple Sons of Israel in Sydney and was the Cape Breton representative on the Atlantic Jewish Council and active in Holocaust education. Friend David Ein said Columbus "was a fine man" who was dedicated to keeping the Jewish heritage in the region. He said Columbus held a Hanukkah party for Jewish members at his home earlier this month. In the fall, Columbus had also started a movie film festival at temple to bring Jewish congregants together. "Everybody had nothing but respect for Jack," said Ein. Columbus leaves behind wife Sharon, three children and two grandchildren. ******************************************************************************************************* Cape Breton Deaths courtesy of CBGHA http://www.cbgha.org