Cape Breton Deaths courtesy of CAPE BRETON GENEALOGY & HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE - <http://www.cbgen.org/>www.cbgen.org NEW MEMBERS WELCOME Cape Breton Deaths November 04, 2013 Monday There are 6 obituaries published today Arthur Gordon "Moose" Mercer - George Earl Roland - 79 yrs Joseph Thomas "Joe" Francis - 79 yrs Elizabeth Williams - 106 yrs Sheldon Francis "Shelly" Syms - 62 yrs Irene Cleophas MacIsaac - 88 yrs Arthur Gordon 'Moose' Mercer Passed on: November 2nd, 2013 It is with heavy hearts that the family of Arthur Gordon 'Moose' Mercer announce his passing on Saturday Nov. 2, 2013, at his home in Mira, with his loving family by his side. Born in Sydney, Moose was the son of the late Arthur L. Mercer and Ethel Blanche (Demont). Moose was a prominent local businessman, owner of Mercer Fuels Limited, and was involved in numerous other business ventures throughout his lifetime. Moose was inducted in to the Cape Breton Business Hall of Fame and the Cape Breton Sport Hall of Fame as a member of the Sydney Academy Basketball team. Moose was also a member of the United Baptist Church, a member of the board of directors for the 1987 Canada Games, a member of the Rotary Club, a 55-year member at St. Andrew's Lodge of Cape Breton #7, and also a member of the Scottish Rite. Moose was a tireless supporter many local charities and sports teams. Moose was an avid horseman, horse owner, and loved going to his coffee club with great friends. In his younger years, he had a pilot's license and loved playing basketball and hanging out at the YMCA. Moose always put his family first and is survived by his loving wife Joan 'Bibbie' (Woodill); daughter Brenda, Coxheath, and her children Christy (Jeremy), Jamie (Claire) and Chauncey Gillis; son Gary (Laura), Pt. Edward, and their children Ian (Jessica), Jacqueline 'Jacki' and Justin (Annie) Mercer; and son David (Barbara), Westmount, and their children Todd and Courtney Mercer; great-grandchildren Cody Wells and Brooklyn Mercer; brother-in-law Douglas Woodill; cousins, Earl Demont and Dorothy Brunt, and longtime friends, Gar (Lorna) MacQuarrie and Sandy (Wendy) Morrison. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a brother Lawrence. Visitation will take place Wednesday Nov. 6, 2013, at Sydney Memorial Chapel from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. and a Masonic Service will be held at 6:45 p.m. A funeral service will be held Thursday, 2 p.m. at the United Baptist Church, Sydney, with Rev. Allan MacLellan officiating. A very special thanks to Dr. Bobby Cohen, the nurses, the VON, and Palliative Care. Donations may be made to the VON, Palliative Care, or a charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or e-mail [email protected] George Earl Roland Passed in: Alder Point Passed on: November 3rd, 2013 It is with great sadness that we, the family, announce the passing of George Earl Roland, 79, a longtime resident of Alder Point. Earl passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, at the Northside General Hospital, with his companion and best friend Ann O'Neil at his side. Born in Alder Point, he was a son of the late Victor and Celina (Walker) Roland. He was predeceased by his wife Audrey (Rapley) Roland in November 1984 and his son Allan Michael Roland in August 2012, as well as sisters, Muriel Laffin, Eunice Carey and Cynthia Simec. Earl is survived by sons, Vic (Barbara) Roland, Dennis (Laurie) Roland and daughter, Brenda D'Angelo; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all of Ontario as well as sisters and brothers, Gertrude (Lawrence) Laffin, Mill Creek, Louise (Gerald) Confiant, Alder Point, Jeanette Vaughan, London, Ont., Lawrence (Gerri) Roland, Mississauga, Ont., and Nicholas (Nancy) Roland, Alder Point. Earl also leaves behind a very large extended family, all of whom were very important and dear to him. They include Uncle Johnny (Deannie) Walker; nieces and nephews, cousins and friends from Fort McMurray, Alta., Ontario and Nova Scotia. There will be no visitation. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013, at St. Anne Church, Alder Point, with Fr. Peter McLeod officiating. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bras d'Or. Donations in Earl's memory may be made to the Hospice Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of Francis Funeral Home, Sydney Mines. The family would like to extend sincere thanks to Dr. Michel McKeough, Louise and the staff of the Northside General Hospital - 4 West. Expressions of sympathy may be directed to Earl's family by visiting www.francisfunerahome.ca. Joseph Thomas Francis Born In: Big Cove New Brunswick Passed in: Membertou Passed on: November 2nd, 2013 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joseph 'Joe' Thomas Francis, 79, of Membertou on Nov. 2, 2013, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Big Cove, New Brunswick, he was the son of the late Moses and Mary Selma (Jerrome) Francis. Joe was a veteran of the Vietnam War and served with the U.S. Air force. He was a welder by trade and worked in Membertou and Boston up until his illness. He was a devoted Catholic and for over 50 years made an annual pilgrimage to St. Anne de Beaupré, Qu to pray. He is survived by wife, Mary (Pierro) formerly of Wagmacook; daughter, Mary Velma Claire; and brother, Eugene Augustine, both of New Brunswick; granddaughters, Jenny Mae Sock and Kyla Gail Claire; great-grandchildren, Autumn Rain Sock and Paqtism Thomas Jocob Augustine; sister-in-law, Annie Marie Denny, Eskasoni; brother-in-law, Steve Pierro, Boston; godchildren, Glenn Googoo, Membertou, and Walter Jr. Francis, Eskasoni; also a large number of nieces, nephew and relatives. Joe was predeceased by daughter, Rose Marie Pierro, brothers, Raymond, Lawrence, Joe Leo and Walter Francis. Visitation for the late Joe Francis will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. on Thursday at St. Anthony Daniel Church, Sydney. Rev. Bill Burke will officiate. Interment in Membertou Memorial Gardens. Salite will follow at Membertou Trade and Convention Centre. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting our website, www.twcurry.com. Elizabeth Williams Born In: Sydney Mines Born: November 19th, 1906 Passed in: Sydney Mines Passed on: November 1st, 2013 With sadness we announce the passing of Elizabeth Williams on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, at Northside General Hospital, following a brief illness. Born in Sydney Mines on Nov. 19, 1906, Elizabeth was the daughter of Frederick and Eva (Hiscox) Williams. She was an artist, world traveller and joyful, creative spirit - an inspiration to all who knew her. A graduate of the Victoria School of Art (now NSCAD University) she worked as a commercial artist in Quebec City and Toronto before embarking on a teaching career. After graduating from Normal School in Truro and teaching in Cascapedia and Sweetsburg, Quebec, she served with the Canadian Women's Army Corps in England and Belgium during the Second World War and on returning home joined the Halifax City Schools newly formed art department, teaching and inspiring hundreds of young people. A nature lover and fierce advocate for the environment, on her retirement she returned to Sydney Mines where she continued to inspire family, friends and neighbours with her uplifting spirit and inquiring mind, and her way of living each day in appreciation of and wonder at the natural world's magnificence. Elizabeth loved flowers, trees, art, music, books and especially verse, and exercised her astonishing memory up to the very end of her life by reciting the poetry she so loved. Left to mourn her passing are her sister Ruth Savage of Dundas, Ont., her devoted nephew Robert McGrath who enabled her to live independently in her harbourside home up until her illness, her nieces, Carol (of Halifax) and Joan Bruneau (Lunenburg), Marion Tucker and Trish Zahara (Hamilton, Ont.), Ann MacDonald (Truro) and Eva Lantz (Olney, Illinois), nephews, Fred and Jeff Williams (Sarnia, Ont.), and great-nephews, Andrew, Seamus and Angus Erskine, Thomas and George Zahara, Jason MacDonald and great-nieces, Cari Gray, Samantha and Amanda Williams and all of their partners and extended families. Besides her parents, Elizabeth was predeceased by her sisters, Dorothy McGrath, Marion Bruneau and Edith Hennigar, and brothers, Fredrick, Albert, Charles and John. Many thanks to all Elizabeth's dear friends and neighbours for their kindness over the years, and to Dr. Kohlsmith and the nurses at Northside General for their compassionate care. Cremation has taken place. There will be a memorial service at Trinity Anglican Church and interment in St. Mary's Cemetery, Shore Road, at a later date. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Francis Funeral Home, Sydney Mines. Donations in memoriam may be made to CNIB or a charity of one's choice. Expressions of sympathy may be directed to Elizabeth's family by visiting www.francisfuneralhome.ca. Sheldon 'Shelly' Syms Born In: Sydney Passed in: Dominion Passed on: November 1st, 2013 It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Sheldon Syms, 62, of Dominion. Shelly passed away on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney with his loving family at his side. Born in Sydney, Shelly was the son of the late Phillip and Helen (E'tienne) Syms. Shelly worked as a bartender for many years at the Lingan Golf and Country Club. He managed The Main Event bar in Glace Bay. He also worked at the sport shop in CBU. He and Charmaine owned and operated The Dominion Deli. Shelly loved all sports. Fishing - the smaller the fish, the bigger the stories he would tell. Harness racing - he was the co-owner of Joe's Piper, who wasn't exactly the fastest horse. Golf - Shelly loved the game. He was most proud of getting a hole-in-one on two separate occasions at Lingan Golf and Country Club. He also gave countless lessons to people over the years. Hockey was Shelly's passion, having played for Reserve Mines High School and Little X. He loved the game. Throughout the years, Shelly was involved with minor hockey; coaching, managing, or making schedules for numerous teams. He loved the camaraderie of the game and took great pride in watching his players advance through the ranks of Minor Hockey. This love of sports was passed on to his sons, who he coached over the years in baseball, golf and hockey. Family was everything to Shelly; always keeping in touch with his extended loved ones. He was very proud of them. Shelly could always be counted on to help anyone in need. Shelly will be fondly remembered by his former wife and friend, Charmaine (Hill); loving sons, Grant and Blake, of Dominion; sister, Bernadette Currie, Scarborough, Ont.; brothers, Joseph 'Dodo' Syms, Lower Sackville, Elmer Syms, Sydney; sister-in-law, Susie Syms, Halifax; father-in-law , Coogan Hill, Dominion; and many friends. Shelly had many nieces and nephews who loved him and will miss him dearly. Besides his parents, Shelly was predeceased by his sister, Rita (John) Fowler, brothers, Billy, Pookie (Sharon), Freddie (Kay) and Lindy (Evelyn). Visitation for Shelly Syms will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 16 Reserve St., Glace Bay. A funeral mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Joseph's Church, Reserve Mines with Fr. Daniel Boudreau officiating. Cremation will follow. Interment will in the parish cemetery. A luncheon will be held in the church hall. Donations in Shelly's memory may be made to Kid Sport or Palliative Care. Online condolences to the Syms family are available through www.vjmcgillivray.ca. Rest in peace, Shelly. You will always be loved and missed. Irene Cleophas MacIsaac Born In: Sydney Born: November 10th, 1925 Passed in: Sydney Passed on: November 1st, 2013 Irene Cleophus MacIsaac, 88, passed away peacefully on Nov. 1, 2013, at Harbourstone Enhanced Care Facility, Sydney. Born in Sydney Nov. 1, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Catherine (MacNeil) MacIsaac. Irene is survived by sister, Cecilia D' Agostino, Montreal; many nieces and nephews. Irene was predeceased by sisters, Kay, Pauline, Mary and Margaret, brothers, Murdock, Michael, Duncan and Donnie. Visitation will be held 7-9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4 at T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel. Funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at Sacred Heart Church. Rev. Bill Burke will officiate. Interment in Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks. Donations in Irene's memory may be made to a charity of choice. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.twcurry.com.