Cape Breton Deaths August 23, 2008 Saturday Joseph 'Shiner' Burke April 18, 1927-Aug. 22, 2008 Little Lorraine - It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, Joseph. Joseph passed doing what he loved most - fishing with his son, Jamie. Born in Lorraine, he was the son of the late William E. and Mary Ann (Bates) Burke. A fisherman his entire life, Joseph fished in many areas including New Brunswick, Newfoundland and the eastern seaboard of the United States, before coming back home to the port of Lorraine to fish. He has two passions, fishing and the Montreal Canadiens. He was a gentle and easygoing soul with great faith and will be sorely missed by all those who knew him. He was a member of Immaculate Conception parish, Main-a-Dieu. Joseph is survived by his wife, Kathleen (Ley); six children, sons, Jamie (Lynn), Bateston, Frankie (Shelley), Dartmouth; daughters, Josephine (Jerry) Kennedy, Bateston, Charlene (Mike) Leightizer, Dartmouth, Lori, England, and Natasha (Stanley), at home. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Nikki, Ryan, Kara, Brendan, LeeAnne, Chris and Annie Leigh and six great-grandchildren. Joseph is also survived by brothers, Fabian (Rita), Little Lorraine, Gerard, Sydney; sisters, Irene Perry, Little Lorraine, Geneva Locke, Main-a-Dieu, and Lorraine (Dave) White, Fredericton, N.B.; and his faithful four-legged companions, Klondike and Dawson. Besides his parents, Joseph was predeceased by brother, Billy 'Boo-Boo', three sisters, Barbara, Marjorie Cecilia and Marjorie Loretta (both in infancy), brothers-in-law, Roy Perry, Jim Price, Charlie Ley, Cecil Locke, sister-in-law, Marilyn Burke, nephews, Barry Burke, Brian and Patrick Locke and daughter-in-law, Anne Burke. Visitation to take place at Immaculate Conception parish, Main-a-Dieu, Sunday, Aug. 24, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral mass to be held Monday, Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. with Fr. Peter LeBlanc officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the cemetery fund or the charity of one's choice. Remember - no act of kindness; however small, is ever wasted. Joseph was a rich man indeed.We love you Dad! Tide and wind and crag, Sea-weed and sea shell And broken rudder- And the story is told Of human veins and pulses, Of eternal pathways of fire, Of dreams that survive the night, Of doors held ajar in storms. -E.J. Pratt Online condolences may be sent to our webpage at www.chantfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Chant's Funeral Home. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lila Catherine MacLean - Passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008, at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, Oakville, Ont., at age 82. Lila leaves to mourn her loving husband, Ronald Francis and her son, Ronald Joseph and her daughter in-law, Cari (Vaselenak). Lila was predeceased by her parents, John Dan and Dolena (Gillis) MacDonald, as well as her loving maternal grandparents, John Y. and Flora (Walker) Gillis, with whom she made her childhood home in MacKinnon's Harbour, Cape Breton, N.S., after the death of her mother. Lila met and married her husband Ron while serving with the Women's Division of the RCAF in Metz, France. Lila was a longtime member of the Catholic Women's League, where she played an active role in St. Mary's parish, Red Deer, Atla., and in St. Cecilia's parish (15 years), Calgary, Atla. Lila is also survived by numerous relatives and friends, enjoying a sisterly relationship with Ada (MacKenzie) MacLean, MacKinnon's Harbour, Cape Breton, N.S.; and dear cousins, Alexander MacLean, Toronto, Ont., Anne (Larry) Nestman, Florence (Joe) Kanary, Theresa Schultz and Helen (James) MacDonald, all of Halifax, N.S. Cremation has taken place. As per Lila's wishes, private arrangements have been made. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Canadian Diabetes Association would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be made at: www.oakviewfuneral.ca. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Henry 'Mick' Nearing 74, Scotchtown - Henry 'Mick' Nearing, 74, of Amelia Street, Scotchtown, passed away Friday, Aug. 22, 2008, at the New Waterford Consolidated Hospital. Born in New Waterford, he was the son of the late James and Annie (Gallant) Nearing. Henry was a member of St. Michael's Church and the Scotchtown Volunteer Fire Department. He was a mechanic by trade and enjoyed fishing. Surviving are his daughter, Rosemary Nearing, New Waterford; sisters, Jean (Sonny Chesal), Scotchtown, Caroline (Joe Lee), Scotchtown, Anne (Ken McLaughlin), B.C., Violet (Al McNeil), Ontario, and Utah MacLean, Sydney; brothers, Raymond (Elsie), Scotchtown, Charlie (Marie), New Waterford, Miles (Bonnie) and James, Manitoba; grandchildren, Candace, Deborah and Jeff; his former wife, Marie McCarthy; many nieces and nephews; and his dog, Wooly. He was loved by all and will be sadly missed. As requested, there will be no visitation or memorial service. Interment will take place at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family at sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John 'Jack' MacRitchie Sydney Feb. 27, 1924-Aug. 21, 2008 - John 'Jack' MacRitchie, 84, of Centre Street, Sydney, passed away Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney. Born in Sydney, he was the son of the late Sadie and John Alexander MacRitchie. Jack was a kind and gentle man. He never failed to doff his hat and bid each person he met with a smile and greeting. Jack is survived by his sister, Vivian, at home; brother, Earl, Sydney; Earl's children, Beverly, Joan, Greg and John and several grandnieces and nephews. Visitation will take place at Sydney Memorial Chapel, Sunday, Aug. 24, 7-9 p.m. A funeral service will be held in the chapel, Monday, Aug. 25, 10 a.m., with Rev. Robert Lyle officiating. Interment in Hardwood Hill Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Frank Warren Letcher - It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Frank Warren Letcher on Thursday Aug. 21, 2008, at age 62, after a brief illness. Born in Inverness, he was the son of Arthur Rosewarren Letcher and Catherine Margaret (MacKinnon) Letcher. He lived most of his adult life in the Northwest Territories, employed as a teacher. Frank is survived by his wife, Minnie; daughter, Tanya; and son, Loyal. He will be greatly missed especially by his grandchildren, Wynona, Stanley, Loyal Jr. and Jacob. Also survived by brothers, Walter, Arthur; and sister, Betty (Letcher) Romard, Sydney. He was predeceased by his mother and father, brothers, William Edward and Daniel Charles. By his request, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held Aug. 28, 2008, in the Northwest Territories. ******************************************************************************* Cape Breton Deaths courtesy of CBGHA http://www.cbgha.org