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Obituary of Clarence James Roberts
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Clarence James Roberts
Baddeck, NS
We are celebrating the life of Clarence James Roberts who passed away on May 8th, 2025 at age 92 in Baddeck, the village where he was born. He was just 3 days short of his 93rd birthday. Clarence is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Mary (MacRitchie), his two children, Sandi (Gary) and Tommy (Joanne), and his two grandchildren, Colin and Eric. Clarence is also survived by his brother, Willie; sister-in-law, Betty Roberts; brother in-law, Lloyd MacRitchie; sister-in-law, Margaret Logue and many, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Born in Baddeck on May 11, 1932, Clarence was predeceased by his parents, Thomas andAnnie (MacInnis) Roberts; his twin, Clifford, brothers, Morris and Daniel and sisters, Marion Warnholtz and Betty Skinner.
Clarence was born and lived his entire life on the Shore Road in Baddeck. He was a carpenter by trade – even building the house he and Mary shared for their married life. It was working in carpentry, with a crew assembled by his good friend Gordon MacRae, that took him on his first travel adventure in 1984. Gordon and his team build a replica of the Silver Dart – the first powered, heavier-than-air machine to fly in Canada in 1909. The original Silver Dart was designed and built by the Aerial Experiment Association founded by Alexander Graham Bell. The replica aircraft was donated to the Royal Air Force Museum in London, England. Clarence along with the rest of the crew that worked on the replica, as well as several representatives from the community, got to travel to the Farnborough International Airshow in England where the replica Dart was put on display. What a trip they had! So many stories from the places they visited which whetted his appetite for the travel he and Mary would take later in life. Together they made trips to England, Scotland and Ireland with perhaps the highlight travelling to Waipu, New Zealand – a town twinned with Baddeck as a result of Scottish emigrants from the Baddeck area settling there in the 1800’s.
Throughout his life Clarence loved the outdoors. In his early years, his partner in crime was his twin brother and later it was Mary at his side. Fishing and hiking – often with his camera in hand. He loved taking pictures. Some of his most beloved photos were taken on the opportunities he had to go flying both for work or with friends in the community. There are carousels of slides at his home as testament documenting his adventures.
Walking to the pond (snowshoeing in winter), swimming at the shore these were the simple pleasures Clarence enjoyed. He always kept a garden. During the Second World War, his mother had taught Clifford and him to knit. Throughout his life there was always something “on the needles”. Family and friends were often the recipients of his woolen socks. However, it was hooking rugs that became his passion. Friends from far and wide knew of his desire for wool to be cut into strips and used as the raw material for his beautiful mats. Bags of old coats and suits would arrive at the house. Many a person received a compliment about their nice winter coat only to be told it would make a good mat!
Clarence was never much for TV but always had a book or two on the go. “The best present you could ever get is a book.” In his later years, he spent his mornings with the Chronicle Herald reading it from front to back and doing all the crossword puzzles. Once that was finished, if the weather was warm enough, it was out to hold court on the front step with the many visitors that would stop in to tell yarns and hear Clarence’s stories from his excellent memory.
To the end, Clarence modeled living a life of gratitude. Gratitude for his experiences. Gratitude for his friends. And most of all gratitude for his family. He loved his grandchildren and delighted in hearing about their various hobbies, musical and sporting exploits. This is how his family will remember him. With that, the family wishes to express their appreciation and gratitude to the staff at the Victoria County Memorial Hospital for the caring and kindness Clarence experienced while there. It was incredibly comforting and made a difficult time less challenging.
In accordance with Clarence’s wishes, cremation will take place followed by a private interment at the Little Narrows Presbyterian Church.
Donations may be made in his memory to the Victoria County Memorial Hospital Foundation or another charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the care of Dennis Haverstock Funeral Chapel, Whycocomagh.
Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com
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1932 2025
Dennis Haverstocks funeral homes
Death notice for the town of: Whycocomagh, Province: Nova Scotia
death notice Clarence
James
Roberts 1932 2025
obituaries notice Clarence
James
Roberts 1932 2025
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Clarence
James
Roberts 1932 2025 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.