Phalen, John Herbert,
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Jack on November 15, 2017. After a long battle with Cancer, Jack passed away, at his home in Halifax, in the arms of his loving wife. Born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia in 1941, he was the son of the late John Herbert Phalen Sr., and the late, Myrtle (Munro) Phalen-McLaughlin.
Jack served in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1958 to 1982. His military service included, Canadian Forces Medical Services, Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Attained rank of Warrant Officer, Senior Preventive Medicine Technician. Jack was also a Paratrooper, who enjoyed his many jumps, and was the youngest Paratrooper in Canada at that time. After his retirement from the Armed Forces, Jack was employed with Health Canada as a Environmental Health Officer until he retired in 2006.
Jack was a very kind, loving, and gentle, soul, who had great passion and love for his family. He had an amazing sense of humor and kept all who knew him in laughter. One of Jacks many passions was golf. He loved spending time on the golf course both here and abroad, and became an avid golfer. Jack was a very intelligent and artistic man with a love for art and at the age of 58 he became a self taught Artist. He also had a great passion for nature which is displayed in the many paintings that hang on the walls of his family and friends, reaching as far away as China. Jack was exceptionally intelligent in many aspects of World Politics, the Environment and Humanitarian issues. He enjoyed having a good political debate and sharing his wealth of knowledge. When Jack was not painting he loved to challenge his family and friends to a good game of cribbage. Jack also loved writing poetry, as well as dancing, playing pool, darts and washer toss at family gatherings.
Jack will be greatly missed by his wife and soul mate, Edith (Sangster) Wright, as well as his loving daughters, Denise Bull (Randy),Victoria, BC, and Diane Phalen, Vancouver, BC. Step-son Devon Wright(Jodeine) Merigomish, step-daughters, Joanne Dickson (Clark) New Glasgow, Erin Stoten (Trevor) Edmonton. He will also be missed by his brothers and sisters, Cyril (Jill) Ontario, Russel (Diddie) Springhill, Lillian OHearn (Mick) Halifax, Isabel Asprey (Late Jim) New Glasgow, Glenda MacIntosh (Eldie Ross) Trenton, Barry (Shirley) New Glasgow, Colleen MacDonald (Lux) Trenton, Fred (Carol) Trenton, as well as his grandchildren, Nicole, Carly, Matthew, Marissa, Carter, Ava, Georgia, Tanner, Sawyer and Hazel and his many nieces and nephews.
He was also predeceased by his beloved son, Kenneth (Victoria,BC), Sisters, Florence Chisholm, Jean Carver, Nora McGrath, Elaine Smith, and several sister and brother-in-laws.
A Living Celebration of Jack's Life was held in May, 2017 at Summer Street Industries, New Glasgow. This Celebration gave Jack, and his family the opportunity to share their love, funny stories and many memories with friends and colleagues.
Cremation will take place at Atlantic Funeral Home, Halifax, with burial in Murrays Point Cemetery, Merigomish, N.S. at a later date.
I know you are now in the arms of the Lord, "Fly High My Love, until we meet again"