Ralph Grant
1930-2018
On June 18, 2018, His hand came down and
chose Ralph Melvin Grant, East River Manor, New Glasgow (formerly of
Mt. Thom and Westville Road) age 87, to make his final journey away
from the caring angels in Palliative Care and his family at the
Aberdeen Hospital. He was born in
Stellarton to the late Verna (MacKay) and Francis
Grant. He was retired from Michelin Tire and worked
most of his early life coal mining in Sydney Mines and Pictou
County. He would be the first to tell you how he
used to eat his lunch laying down next to his pick axe and lunch pail
and would tell anyone the story of his experience of a cave-in at the
Drummond mine he was lucky enough to survive.
Although
a small man, he was tough, yet gentle, stubborn and fiercely
independent. He was affectionately known as the
« foreman » of the construction of the Emergency Department at
the Aberdeen Hospital by the contractors, as he visited the site daily
watching over their work and would be seen riding up and down East
River Road in his motorized chair. He enjoyed visiting his
friends each day for coffee at McDonalds and if there was a
conversation about cars, he was always there with an open
ear. After retirement, he enjoyed trips to Florida
and time spent on his property on Mt. Thom where he had regular visit
from herds of deer at his apple trees. In his
younger years he enjoyed travelling, fishing with his daughters,
skating, riding his bike but particularly enjoyed fiddle
music. His own musical ability would see him even
in his later days playing his harmonica. He had a
sense of humour like no other, always with a joke or a one liner also
known as « Ralphisms ».
He
is survived by his daughter, Margie Grant-Walsh, son-in-law Vernon
Walsh (who he called his son), and loving companion, Anita MacDonald,
son-in-law, John van Bommel and grandchildren, Anneke (Cameron
MacLean) Conquerall Mills, N.S., Rachel (Matt Bigney) Wellington,
N.S., Mark, Vancouver, BC, David, Canmore, AB., Vernon, Dartmouth,
N.S, Christopher, Cadotte Lake, AB, sisters, Alvenia, Betty, many
nieces and nephews.
Besides
his first wife, Theresa Grant, he we predeceased by his second wife,
Pearl Head, daughter, Verna van Bommel, sisters, Marie, Raylene, Joan,
Jessie, Georgina and brother, Vince.
Arrangements
are under the direction of R.H. Porter’s Funeral
Home. Cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation
at his request. A private family
‘Celebration of Life’ will be held. Interment will
follow in the family plot at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery. Memorial
donations can be made to The Arthritis Society of N.S. or
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County, PO Box 781, New Glasgow,
NS, B2H 5G2. The family would like to thank the
caring staff at the Aberdeen Hospital.
« Instead of a harp meeting me
at heaven, it will be a good old fashioned
fiddle. »
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Ralph Grant 19302018.source
Décès pour la Ville: New-Glasgow, Province: Nova Scotia
