Browse the obituary of residing in the province of Nova Scotia for funeral details
Obituary
“The meaning of life is that it stops” – Kafka
Despite the truth in Franz Kafka’s statement, it still brings us great sadness to announce the passing of William Henry Cann, beloved husband, son, father, grandfather, brother and friend, on June 17, 2024 at the Amherst Regional Hospital in Amherst, Nova Scotia.
Born in North Sydney on May 1, 1950, Bill (as everyone knew him) was the fourth of seven children to John James Cann and Violet (Clarke) Cann. He was predeceased by both his parents, a brother, Jimmy, and two sisters, Jean and Betty (Gouthro). He also lost both of his parents-in law, Alfred and Doris Asaph, along with his sister in law, Eileen (Kotlar) and a nephew, Jason Kotlar. On his own family’s side he was predeceased by a brother in law, Reginald Stubbert and a sister in law, Lois Carruthers Cann. He would be upset if we didn’t mention here his two four-legged buddies who often took him for walks, Lincoln and Gilbert who are most certainly keeping him active in heaven now.
He will be sorely missed by the extensive family he leaves behind, most acutely by his wife of 53 years, Patricia (Asaph) and five sons: William (Michelle), David (Laura), and Shawn (Robin) all living in and around the Oxford, Nova Scotia area, Richard in St.John’s Newfoundland and Ryan (Jillian) in Windsor, Ontario. He is also survived by two brothers, both of North Sydney, Ross and Michael (Christine) Cann and his eldest sister Shirley Stubbert of Bowmanville, Ontario. He also leaves behind a brother in law, Robert Gouthro, and a handful of nephews and a niece. We must also count the many in-laws of the Asaph clan who will miss him: Donnie, John, Sonny, Ron, Carl, Valerie, Leo, Raymond and Marsha along with their spouses and children. Not to be forgotten were his two lifelong friends, Jimmy (Cindy) Wallace and Lawrence (Audrey) MacDougall who taught with Bill at Dr. T.L. Sullivan Junior High for many many years. And of course, there are his grandchildren who he loved and adored more than anyone else in the world: Railyn, Grayson, Arden, Sophie and Bauer. It was their youthful exuberance, innocent playfulness and inquisitive curiosity that gave him many of his happiest moments in his final years after moving to Oxford, NS in 2010.
As mentioned, he was a Phys. Ed teacher, a graduate from the Nova Scotia Teacher College in 1971 where he met his wife and lifetime companion. He spent some 25 years educating hundreds of young people in the rural confines of Florence, Bras d’Or, George’s River and other surrounding areas of North Sydney who knew him only as Mr. Cann. Often described by his students as strict but fair, he garnered respect from those he taught and those he taught alongside. He raised his family of five boys in both North Sydney proper and a small subdivision just outside town limits called Sunrise Drive in a house that he himself built. In his early years as a father he taught his boys how to hunt and fish, take care of and maintain cars (a hobby he also shared with his brother Ross as the two bought, repaired and sold cars on and off for years) and built any number of crafty items made of wood. As he got older, his love for the Bras d’Or lakes became evident as he captained several boats including a restored houseboat that putted up and down the shores of places like Long Island, Baddeck and Groves Point. Although his family is fairly sure he would have rather forgotten some of the trips that ended with lost propellers, not enough fuel or a leaky ship. Once he landed in Oxford, his favorite activities always included his grandchildren, whether it was time spent watching Railyn playing soccer, Grayson shooting hoops in the gym, Arden at his piano recital or Sophie and Bauer splashing in the pool or performing acrobatics in a video message, he would sit quietly watching his “little ones” live life. Despite a number of health issues, not the least of which included a number of heart attacks, prostate and bowel cancer, his resiliency in the face of these medical obstacles was not only admirable, but impressive as he rarely openly complained about them to others. In fact, an oncologist once remarked that he looked remarkably well for a man in his condition. He didn’t want to let people see him suffer, especially the grandchildren who mostly accepted that Grampy just moved a bit slower than they did.
This private man did not want a visitation, but instead chose to be cremated before having his ashes returned to Cape Breton and buried at Harbour View Cemetery at St Ann’s Bay at a date to be shared with family and close friends in the near future. The family would like to thank the many doctors and medical professionals who treated his illnesses with grace and patience (for he wasn’t always the best patient) and would ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either the Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society
2024
Death notice for the town of: Oxford, Province: Nova Scotia
death notice William Cann 2024
obituaries notice William Cann 2024
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of William Cann 2024 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
