Roger Michael Christmas
Born In: SYDNEY, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: Membertou, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: June 11th, 2011
Roger Michael Christmas Sr., 55, of 66 Tupsi Dr., Membertou, passed away peacefully Saturday, June 11, 2011, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney.
Born in Sydney, he was the son of the late Raymond and Mary Bridget (Isadore) Christmas.
Roger’s favourite pastime was working on computers and being a ham radio operator (VE1CMR). He was employed with MicMac News for a number of years as photo-type setting layout and design and then was employed with Membertou Band Council for 25 years as the elementary school bus driver. He served in the Militia and the Canadian Armed Forces starting in 1978 as a Corporal in Halifax and CFB Borden, Ont. He took a rank down to private when he joined the regular forces as a mechanic when he retired from CFB Borden he was a Master Corporal.
Roger also drove charter bus runs outside school activities during the summer months. He drove during the Wally Bernard Hockey Tournaments and volunteered at the C@P site in Membertou and St. Anthony Daniel at the time. He greeted each of his students with a smile and a hello and sometimes even a hug, having the song Cotton Eye Joe blasting when they got on to his bus. Dad was a very respected man in his community and he will be deeply missed by his past and present students, especially by those who knew him.
He is survived by his wife the former, Jessie Simon; his children, Cynthia (T.J. Sylliboy), Ben (Michelle Paul), Miranda (Billy Loveys), Roger Christmas Jr.; grandkids, Britany, Keegan, Shayla, Ethan, Cody, Oceania, Shana, Mason, Hope, Emma, Jayla; brothers, Robert (Edith) Christmas, George (Terry) Christmas; sisters, Judy (Basil Hodder), June (John) Christmas, Cecilia (Earl) Christmas, all of Membertou; and sister, Joan (Paul) Martin of Ottawa. He is also survived by sister-in-law, ‘Puddy’ Christmas of Membertou; godchildren, Rodney Christmas, Erin Isadore and Allison Hillier; and by special friends, Bill and Fran Hum, Jim Sherlong, Mona Campbell, Ike Paul, Paul Clarke, Jim and Trish Willis and nephew, Darren Paul.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by brother, Russell Christmas Sr., and sister, Irene Paul.
Visitation for the late Mr. Christmas will take place today after 7 p.m. at the family residence, 66 Tupsi Dr. Membertou. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, June 15 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Anthony Daniel Church, Rev. Donald MacGillivray officiating with interment in Membertou Memorial Gardens.
Online condolences may be sent to twcurry.com.
