Jeffrey Lewis Canning
1962 - 2017
CANNING, Jeffrey Lewis - 55, of Lake Charlotte, Eastern Shore, passed away suddenly, but peacefully on Friday, May 5, 2017 at home in the arms of his loving wife Kathleen (Kathy Cross-Bridgewater). He was born on April 15, 1962 to the late Aubra and Geraldine (Melanson) Canning. Jeff grew up in the small town of Parrsboro, a place where his presence left an everlasting impression upon all ages. It was often said, “He has the best traits of both his parents!”. As a teenager and young adult, he directed his interests and enthusiasm to his school and community; serving as a member of the Student Police, Katimavik, Curling Club, Golf Club, Fire Department, Auxiliary RCMP and Coach of Perry’s Esso Ball Team. Jeff’s sense of humor and love for entertaining, earned him many gigs at the Parrsboro Band Hall, where he was well known for imitating Foster Brooks and Red Skelton. However, it was his ultimate calling to serve others in times of emergency and crisis that lead to his countless career and volunteer opportunities in the fire, medical and funeral vocations in various communities over the years. In 1994, fulltime employment with Canada Post as Post Master, took him to Tangier on the Eastern Shore. On July 6, 1996 he married Kathleen. Later in years, he switched employment to the Halifax Regional School Board as a dependable custodian and substitute caretaker. Jeff proudly served over 100 schools within the board and enjoyed meeting the many students and staff members. Accomplishing much throughout his life, Jeff was most proud of being “Dad” to his remarkable son Adam, 14. Jeff instilled in Adam a love of sports, having all the patience in the world when teaching him a certain skill or explaining strategies while watching sports on TV. He never complained about the countless hours travelling to Adam’s baseball, bowling, soccer, badminton and hockey games. His spirit and presence will forever be at all Adam’s future sporting event. The “sport” in Jeffrey will continue in others we may never meet, as he was a tissue donor. So if one day, his team, the Toronto Maples Leafs, are vying for the Stanley Cup, you can smile knowing someone just may have a new tendon. In all his fifty-five years, Jeff never met a stranger. His friendly, outgoing personality and respectful ways will be missed by those who had the pleasure of his company. If Jeff could make someone smile or laugh, that was good enough for him. He had the gift of making you feel you were the only one that mattered at that moment. Jeff was a ‘news junkie’ from a young age and a Kennedy assassination buff. He liked nothing more for a gift, than a new book about sports or politics. Jeff was a bit of an ‘old soul’ and loved music that Kathleen had often never even heard of, but he would take great pleasure in sharing his love of a certain performer or band on YouTube!, especially John Prine. Two bands that were never part of Jeff’s vocabulary were AC/DC and The Bay City Rollers. Along with his wife Kathleen, Jeffrey is survived by his son, Adam Lewis Canning; sister, Debby (Bob) Woods, Montgomery, Texas; nephew, Josh Woods, Midland, Texas and niece, Tessa Woods, Birmingham, Alabama; special cousin Shelley Dow (Rob Grant), Parrsboro; aunts, Nancy (Colin) Curleigh, Lois (Ross) Smith, all of Parrsboro. He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents Raynold and Gladys (O’Rourke) Melanson and paternal grandparents Lewis and Vivian (Boyd) Canning. Friends and family are invited to celebrate Jeff’s life and honour his legacy, by sharing memories and expressing condolences at D.S. Crowell & Son Funeral Home, Sheet Harbour from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 11th with a Celebration of Life Mass at Saint Brigid’s Catholic Church, Parrsboro on Saturday [May 13, 2017] at 2:00 pm; Father Phil Thibodeau officiating. Reception to follow at the Parrsboro Golf Club (817 Two Island Road, Parrsboro). The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations are to be made to an education fund for his son, Adam by donating at either D.S. Crowell & Son Funeral Home or Smith’s Funeral Home, Parrsboro.
Life can be continued by being an organ or
tissue donor.
