Monday, February 8, 2016
Edward John O'Neill, known to everyone as John. Born in Long Beach in October 1928.
Dad grew up in a simplier time, when the world wasn't so fast or so intensive. When a man worked hard to support his family of nine children, sometimes with a second or third job. And he did so gladly and without complaint...because that's what a man did.
Dad was a quiet man. He never wanted to be the center of attention, even today. He was happiest at home with his noes in a book or with a cup of tea. There was nothing better than a home cooked meal and a slice of Mom's homemade bread. And if there was some bakeapple jam and a can of Nestles cream...well, what more could a man ask for? Of course he was always up for a game of cards. And he played to win. I remember many a noisy night in Wabush when the neighbours dropped in for a game of cards.
Dad loved working with wood. He was an accomplished carpender. Anyone who has seen the log house he built in Fermuse can attast to that. He built it from scratch...getting the logs, cleaning the bark off, fitting them together into a real piece of art.
Dad didn't have an easy life. He delt with some tragedies along the way; losing his own dad at a young age, then his son Ricky, and his daughter Arlene, then his own wife Christine, or as Dad had always called her "Tina". But he shouldered through it all, kept on going, until he was too tired and too frail to go any longer.
So we are honouring his wishes today by having this simple rememebrance service. Even in death, Dad didn't want to be the center of attention. And the last thing he would want is to be on display in a casket.
And so tomorrow we will lay him in the plot next to where Mom is buried. And he will be with his beloved Tina once more.
Yvonne O'Neill
