Parcourez la nécrologie de Orville Lawrence LeDrew Tuesday September 24th 2024 résidant dans la province T-N pour le détail des funérailles
Orville Lawrence LeDrew – husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and helper to many – left us on September 24, 2024. Born on Change Islands on June 23, 1949. He lived most of his 75 years in that community and was known and respected by everyone. He enjoyed a full and active life in the place that he dearly loved, surrounded by the sea which shaped his life.
He is predeceased by his mother Mildred (2000), his father Weston (2005), and his parents-in-law Doug (2003) and Bessie (2005) White.
Left to mourn, comforted by many wonderful memories, are his wife Joan of 42 years, daughter Lori (Donnie), son Lee (Susan), sisters Dona (Ivan) Taverner and Mavis, brothers Barry (Jean) and Everett (Neola), brother-in-law Bruce (Sharon) White, sister-in-law Linda (Austin) Peckford, his many nieces and nephews, and numerous relatives, friends, and colleagues.
Orville will be remembered by those who knew him as a special person. He was a multi-talented individual who used his knowledge and skills to his own benefit, but gladly shared them with anyone who needed them. Often, he would stop his own projects to go help a friend or neighbour with something that required one or more of his various skills. His formal education included Diesel Mechanics at the Lewisporte Vocational School and Nautical Science at what is now the Marine Institute in St. John’s.
Orville’s working life was spent ‘on the water’, with most of his career as a ferry captain with the Department of Works, Services and Transportation. However, his working career didn’t adequately define who he was. He was also a carpenter, an electrician, a welder, a mechanic, and a Mr. Fix-it like his father before him. Orville’s intelligence enabled, or maybe caused, him to be a life-long learner and a problem-solver. If he didn’t have the knowledge at hand, he could always figure things out himself. After the computer was added to his toolbox, Google and the Internet were his constant companions, so his search for knowledge became much more efficient.
Whatever the task at hand, he set very high, but not unreasonable, expectations and standards for himself and anyone else involved. Every challenge was expected to be completed to perfection.
Orville’s incredible memory was undoubtedly a contributing factor in his achievements. In addition to the wealth of practical knowledge that he accumulated, he was a storyteller and could remember and relate hundreds of funny stories he had collected from and about colourful characters from Change Islands and other communities around the coast of Newfoundland.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks to everyone who has supported them during their difficult time, including: the Change Islands First Responders; Dr. Stuckless and Dr. Rorke at the Dr. H. Bliss Cancer Centre; Dr. Culleton and staff at Gander Cancer Care Clinic; palliative care nurse Greg Banfield, the amazing staff at the Lionel Kelland Hospice in Grand Falls-Windsor whose care and compassion are unmatched; dear friends, Michael Strong, Marshall Strong, Woodrow Whitt; Dennis and Paula Flood; and Peter and Donna Stacey; among many others.
An informal celebration of Orville’s life will be held at the Heritage Building on Change Islands on Saturday, September 28 at 2pm. Internment, including a ceremonial burial at sea, will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Orville’s memory may be made to the Lionel Kelland Hospice.
The good seaman avoids the storm he cannot weather and weathers the storm he cannot avoid.
– Anonymous
Tuesday September 24th 2024
Décès pour la Ville Gander, Province T-N
avis deces Orville Lawrence LeDrew Tuesday September 24th 2024
nécrologie Orville Lawrence LeDrew Tuesday September 24th 2024
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Orville Lawrence LeDrew Tuesday September 24th 2024 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.