Obituary for
Anthony Robert Reed
Anthony (Tony) Robert Heurtley Reed ~ October 23, 1948 ~ October 19, 2018
Tony was born in Montreal in 1948. Growing up, he lived in Ontario and Wales, studied at UBC in Vancouver and got his degree at the London Film School. He went on to live in London, Hong Kong, and ultimately returned to Québec.
Tony first met Jane in late 1970’s, in the burgeoning days of their careers in the Montreal film industry. Three decades later they moved to Prince Edward County, Ontario, settling into an historic town cottage in Picton, The 1857 Welsh-Hodgson House. In 2003, they opened the doors to their new occupation as Bed and Breakfast hosts. Many renovations later, Jane and Tony settled into a happy routine of County life with the Bee & Bee business, fabulous neighbours, visiting friends and family, Friday night dinners, sublime beach days, cooking and gardening (pillow fluffing and laundry).
Suddenly in 2006, Tony’s health went quickly downhill, followed by year upon year of undiagnosed debilitating illnesses without remedy. Ultimately a diagnosis of a rare pulmonary disease and treatments were established offering some relief – until three years ago, when just before Christmas, out of the blue there was a diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer.
Tony survived, living remarkably well, beyond all expectations, always bouncing back and hanging on for his dear life.
Ultimately Tony’s death was swift and peaceful.
Frail and exhausted, he entered the hospital ER Tuesday night – and following a flurry of intense medical effort, he passed quietly away on Friday evening – in caring hands and surrounded by love and music.
Tony leaves Jane Churchill – his sweet-heart of 32 years, sister-in-law Joan Churchill, brother-in-law Barry Saunders, Lucia Donnelly (deceased), Winston Churchill (deceased) – daughters-in-law Kathy McBride and Karyn McBride, mother Bessie M Reed (deceased), father Robert C H Reed (deceased), step-mother Molly Reed and the Bell-Gastle family – as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews and grandkids.
Thank you to my whole family, my sister Joan, daughter Kathy, niece Susan, our great friends Marianne Malachowski and her family, marvellous neighbours – especially Howard and Dawn Ziedenberg, extraordinary nurse and friend BJ Murdoch-Brien, outstanding nurse Jennifer Hall, and all of his other excellent caregivers including Heather Campbell and the Family Health Team, Brad and Alyssa of the Coordinated Care Program, Jane Moon and Hospice Prince Edward, Kingston General Hospital, and the KOPI Pain Clinic, plus all of the Cancer Society Drivers. I would also like to express gratitude to his devoted doctors Elizabeth Christie, Meng Guan and Kenneth Chapman.
Supreme thanks to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital ER staff, Dr Josh Colby, the most welcome Auxiliary Mary Catharine Scott Suite, and the second floor nursing staff, who were kind, capable and caring to the end and beyond.
At Tony’s request, there will be no memorial service.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Anthony Robert
Reed 1948 2018..
Death notice for the town of: Belleville, Province: Ontario
On behalf of the Oakville/Ottawa Biker Chicks I would like to express our heartfelt sympathies . Tony was a most gracious host and excellent cook. We are fortunate to have made his aquaintance. This world has lost a most remarkable soul.
Lisa, Nancy, Brenda, Marie, Carol and Barbara