Ira Joseph Williams
Born In: Smelt Brook, Nova Scotia, Canada
Born: November 15th, 1939
Passed in: Edwardsville, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: February 8th, 2012
It is with great sadness that we, the family announce the passing of Ira Joseph Williams on Feb. 8, 2012, at home surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Smelt Brook, Nov. 15, 1939, Ira was the son of the late Parnell and Ellen (Rambeau) Williams.
Ira was a member of the Holy Rosary parish, Westmount, and Church of the Incarnation, Edwardsville.
Ira was a carpenter by trade and was a housing inspector for the Nova Scotia Department of Housing. His work took him throughout Victoria and Richmond counties of Cape Breton during which time he met and helped many wonderful people. Ira loved the outdoors; hunting and fishing with his dear friends, golfing a round at the Highland Links, picking berries and fruit to make preserves, and taking walks down to the beach.
Ira was a recognized athlete and played softball for many years from the 1950s through to the 1980s. Ira also enjoyed playing hockey, and most recently skating with dear friends of the Coxheath Daytime Senior Skaters.
He was an avid sports fan, especially when it came to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He loved visits from family and friends, and especially looked forward to the annual visits from his adoring children and grandchildren all in Alberta. Ira will always be remembered for his singing and guitar playing, backyard campfires and adventures with the grandkids, and his jams and jellies were always in demand around the kitchen table. If you had the pleasure of knowing Ira, you knew you had a genuine, kind and caring friend for life.
Ira is survived by his wife of 50 years, Bridget; one son, Todd (Penelope), Grand Prairie, Alta., and three daughters, Peggy Lee (Robert) Peters, Edmonton, Alta., Ann Cherie (Craig) Korbut, Edmonton, Alta., and Jody (Stephen Gromack), Calgary, Alta. Grampy will be sadly missed by nine treasured grandchildren, Meghan and Nolan Williams, Tayleur, Brosnon and Rylan Peters, Madison and Kendra Korbut, and Thea and Emy Williams Gromack. Ira is also survived by two sisters, Madelynn (David) Williams, Saint John, N.B., and Agnes (Malcolm) Rudderham, Port Elgin, N.B.; and three brothers, Jake (Mary), Edwardsville, Willard (Colleen), New Waterford, and Winston (Patricia), Saint John, N.B.; and many neices and nephews.
Besides his parents, Ira was predeceased by his sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Hennick, and brother, Archie.
Visitation for the late Ira Joseph Williams will be held at Pier Community Funeral Home, 1092 Victoria Rd., Sydney, on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 2-8 p.m. Funeral mass to celebrate the life of Ira Joseph Williams will be held Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church, Westmount, with Fr. Dan MacInnis officiating. Interment will take place at Church of the Incarnation parish cemetery, Edwardsville. Reception will be shared following the service at the Westside Legion, Westmount.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ira may be made to Hospice Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton or the Canadian Cancer Society.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Pier Community Funeral Home.
Online condolences to the family can be expressed through www.pierfuneralhome.com.
Those we loved don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday. Unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, forever missed. Thank you, Dad, for so many wonderful lessons about what true love really is.
