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There is no way to express the sorrow felt by our family as we grieve the loss of our beautiful Jeff. On Wednesday, April 5th, 2023, Jeff passed away after a 5 year struggle with metastatic breast cancer. He was surrounded by his 4 beloved children Josh, Zach (Alexa), Maxime (Vincent), and Etienne, as well as his loving wife Janet and his sister Elizabeth (Chris). Also left to cherish his memory are his sister Susan (Eric), his brothers Mike (Jan), and John as well as sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Irene and Cliff, and his younger brothers Christopher and Tim (Annette).
Many people will remember Jeff for his gracious attention during dinner service at some of Ottawa’s wonderful restaurants including The Ritz, Domus Cafe, Signatures, St Martha’s Brasserie and, most recently, Le St Laurent. He took great pleasure in presenting delicious food and wine to appreciative customers throughout his 40 year career. He also never missed a chance to share a joke with the kitchen staff. Although Jeff was, in some circles, a legendary server, he would be the first to tell you that his most impressive job was being a dad. He often spoke of his pride in the younger generations and truly believed in their ability to change the world.
Jeff was a kind and gentle man. He enjoyed life’s little pleasures (a glass of wine, a baby’s smile, a dad joke, a flourishing garden, a good deal at the grocery store) and he didn’t sweat the big stuff. He lived his life in pursuit of beauty whether it be music, poetry, social justice or a simple sunset by the lake at the cottage. If you had a chance to speak with him on any subject for more than 5 minutes, you’d realize he was interested in just about everything and was usually quick with an answer to almost any question. Although he didn’t use his math degree in a formal way, it kept him rational and real. He was always happy to help figure out a problem or tell you exactly how many steps there were from one floor to the next.
We will carry him in our hearts forever.
A celebration to honour Jeff’s memory will be held on Monday, April 17th, 2023 at Le St. Laurent Restaurant, Penthouse, 460 St. Laurent Blvd., from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. Jeff did not stand on ceremony so please feel free to join us at your leisure. We will plan to raise a glass at sunset in his name.
A private service will be held by the family at a later date.
Donations, in Jeff’s name, can be made to Canadian Cancer Society, MSA Society of Canada or the Parkinson Canada.
As always, don’t forget to tip your server!
Wednesday April 5th 2023
Death notice for the town of: Ottawa, Province: Ontario
death notice Jeffrey Owen Cearns Wednesday April 5th 2023
obituaries notice Jeffrey Owen Cearns Wednesday April 5th 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jeffrey Owen Cearns Wednesday April 5th 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
Dear Mike, Susan, Elizabeth, Josh:
Please accept condolences for this loss. Very difficult to imagine the pain that you would experience especially so soon after the loss of Tim. The obituary is spot on. Captures the essence of the man that he was and the life that he lived. When I arrived in Ottawa for grad school in 1982, I had no place to stay. I was only given his name and address by Mike, and I sat on his port on Stewart Street til 1 am waiting for him. He walked up and said “sure, you can stay for a couple of weeks until you find a place”. We ended up living together as room mates for almost 2 years and developed deep friendship marked by mutual respect. We had some good times. He also became an icon in the Ottawa hospitality industry, which is a great legacy in an industry where it is difficult to have a sustained career. His “joie de vie” was unmatched. He will be missed. I cannot attend the celebration of life, so please raise a glass for me in his honour.(which I will also do from afar).
Sincerely, Arun