Roderick P. Schaller
Born In: Sydney Forks, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: Mira, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: June 22nd, 2012
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Roderick P. Schaller on June 22, 2012, at the An Cala unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital after a short battle with cancer.
Roddie was born in Sydney Forks in 1940, to late Katherine (Hunter) and John Basil Schaller.
He joined the army at 17 and served in the engineers as a sapper for three years. He returned to the Sydney and worked for several years here before going to work in Halifax. In 1974, Roddie returned to Sydney area to do drywall installing and finishing and he took great pride in doing this work for more than 30 years.
Roddie was a great family man, and was always ready to lend a helping hand to family, friends and neighbours. He served as a beaver and cub leader and was Commodore and property chairman of the Mira Boat Club for a number of years.
Roddie is survived by his wife and best friend, Sharon (Wolfe); son, Steven and his wife Alissa (Pearo); his beloved granddaughter, Olivia of Sydney Forks; and his daughter, Kathleen of Sydney. He is also survived by his sister, Olga (Syd) Morrell of Sydney Forks as well as many loving nieces, nephews and good friends.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers, Paul, George and John Louis (in infancy) of Sydney Forks, and John Basil of Belleville, Ont., sisters, Marie Pitard of Toronto, and Polly Graham of Edmonton.
Roddie and his family lived in Sydney Forks for 29 years, and he moved to the “bungalow” on the Mira in 2005 when Sharon retired. Roddie loved to garden and was well known for his rhubarb and especially his tomatoes. Many people enjoyed baskets of his home grown vegetables come harvest time.
In keeping with Roddie’s generous nature, he has donated his body to the Dalhousie Medical Center.
A celebration of Roddie’s life will be held Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at 10 a.m. at S.W. Chant and Son Funeral Home, 564 Alexandra St., Sydney. There will be a reception to follow after the service.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to Palliative Care at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, the Cape Breton Cancer Center, or a charity of one’s choice.
We would like to thank Dr. J. Archibald, Drs. Pahil and McCormack and the staff of the Cape Breton Cancer center, Dr. Ritter and Dr. Tobin and Laurie Mortimer of Palliative Care and all the wonderful nurses who took such good care of Roddie and his family in the An Cala Unit of the regional hospital. We would also like to thank our wonderful extended family and friends who made these last few days bearable.
Online condolences may be made at our web page at www.chantfuneralhome.com.
