Donald Edward Jackman
October 20, 1940 – December 27, 2021
The Jackman family is saddened to announce the passing of Donald
Edward Jackman on Dec. 27, 2021 after an unexpected decline. He was a
dear family man and friend. Leaf Nation has lost arguably its greatest fan.
The community mourns a kind and gentle soul that everyone adored.
Don was predeceased by his wife Noreen (née Farrell) in 2017 after 50
years of loving marriage; his parents Annie (née Fitzgerald) and Joseph;
sister Marjorie; brothers Clyde, Norman and Frankie; brothers-in-law Henry
(Hank) Light and James (Jim) Farrell; sister-in-law Catherine Marie Lavers
and dear grandson Mark Jackman.
Leaving to mourn but secure in the knowledge that Don led a bountiful life
are children Paul (Sandra), Sean (Robert), Catherine (Doug); grandchildren
Lauren Jackman, Charlie and James MacKay; loving sister Bernadine
White (Ivan); brother-in law Jack Lavers (Jane); sisters-in-law Loretta Light,
Rose Farrell, Agnes Jackman, and Irene Jackman; nieces and nephews
Rodney McCarthy (Annette), Terry Jackman, Darrell Shelley (Yifan), Dennis
Shelley (Janice), Joanne Ross (Kory), Stephen White (Stephany), David
Light (Darcia), Robert Light, Catherine Light, Brian Light (Monique), Troy
Lavers (Adrian), and Fr. John Lavers. Don enjoyed a large circle of
extended family and friends. He will be deeply missed.
Don grew up on Quigley’s Line, Bell Island, and married his sweetheart
Noreen in 1966. They made their home in Mount Pearl, where Don lived
until his last days. Don had a long career as a welder (1960-2010). He
spent many years at McNamara/East Steel, DF Barnes and finally
Newdock. Country music artists like George Jones or Charley Pride offer a
sense of his musical tastes. He was a lifelong member of Mary Queen of
the World Parish and had a wonderful baritone voice. Dad sang in the
parish choir in the 1980s. He enjoyed many dinners and dances in “town”
or back on Bell Island, where Don and Noreen maintained Don’s family
home and strong ties to the community. In later years, Dad attended weekly
lunches at the Church of the Good Shepherd. He enjoyed activities and
social connections as part of the Mount Pearl Seniors Independence
Group. Don loved their weekly game of cards (“the Rummoli board is in the
trunk and ready to go!”).
He was absolutely devoted to his favorite hockey team, the Toronto Maple
Leafs. Dad watched every Leaf game and found ways around the
broadcast blackouts. He was thrilled to attend the Leafs Centennial Classic
game in Toronto in 2017 with daughter Catherine and grandsons Charlie
and James. Don loved Elvis. He and son Sean ventured to Graceland in
Memphis and the Opry in Nashville in 2018: what an adventure! He
enjoyed many family gatherings with Paul, Sandra, Mark and Lauren in
Newfoundland. Dad had an artistic side and created many great
paint-by-numbers pieces that were displayed at his home to the delight of
family and friends.
At this time the Jackman Family would like to acknowledge the exceptional
medical care provided by Don’s dedicated family doctor Dr. Fakhruddin
Essaji in Mount Pearl; Rodolfo Pike, Angela Bartlett and Dr. Bruce Sus
at the Congestive Heart Failure Clinic (Health Sciences Centre). Siblings
Sean and Catherine would like to recognize the extraordinary medical
support from their brother (Dr.) Paul in Dad’s later years and especially his
final weeks. The family is very grateful for the extremely compassionate
care of Dr. Susan MacDonald and the entire team at the Palliative Care
Unit at the Dr. Leonard A. Miller Centre. “Goodness will overcome
darkness.”
Thank you to Fr. Wayne Dohey for his spiritual support.
Comfort Home Care provided much-appreciated assistance. To Gladys
Parsons and Kelsey Daye, Dad’s home care workers, many thanks for your
years of support; to their colleague, Jeff Anga, thank you for your great help
in Don’s last days.
Cremation has taken place. Due to current COVID restrictions, a visitation,
mass and celebration of life are expected to take place in July 2022 on Bell
Island (family to update in Spring 2022). Please consider a contribution in
Don’s memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the (Eastern) Health
Care Foundation (designation Palliative Care Unit). Messages of
condolences may be offered at www.cauls.ca
Rest in peace, Don: loyal husband, loving father and brother, friend and
Christian man. Go Leafs Go!
2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Donald Edward Jackman 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Torbay, Province: T-N