After a long and full life, the family announces the passing of our father, Nicholas Furlong, aged 96 years, at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital, St. John’s, on February 19, 2013. Originally from St. Brendan’s, Bonavista Bay, home for the last 41 years has been Bay Bulls. He leaves behind his wife Rose, following 68 years of marriage, together with a family of four sons and five daughters: Thomas (Nancy), Orleans, ON, Edward (Marilyn), Delaware, USA, Dr. Brian (Carla), Guelph, ON, Dennis (Patricia), Paradise, NL, Laura Lynch (John), St. John’s, NL, Josephine Frangou (Dr. Phred), Calgary, AB, Madonna Morris (Emmett), St. John’s, NL, Isabel Myles (Kevin), Holland Landing, ON, Mary King (Brian), Edmonton, AB. In addition he leaves 17 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, including Lauren Chaulk, his precious “little one” in St. John’s, NL to whom he has been very attached. Left to grieve are his sister, Nellie Fitzgerald, Deer Lake, NL; and sisters-in-law Mary O’Reilly, Gander, NL, and Anne Walsh, St. Brendan’s, NL, plus multiple other extended family members. Our family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated staff of Agnes Pratt Home who are angels in uniform and have provided exceptional care to our father throughout his stay at the facility. Resting at Ryan’s Funeral Home, Bay Bulls, on Thursday, February 21st from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday, February 22nd from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial to take place from Sts. Peter & Paul RC Church, Bay Bulls on Saturday, February 23rd at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at Our Lady of Mt. Loretta RC Cemetery, Bay Bulls. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Our Lady of Mt. Loretta Cemetery Fund.
I am standing upon the seashore
A ship at my side spreads
her white sails to the morning breeze
And starts for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength
And I stand to watch her until at length
She hangs like a speck of white cloud
Just where the sea and the sky
Come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says:
“There, she is gone!”
“Gone where?”
“Gone from my sight, that’s all.”
She is just as large
in mast and hull and spar
As she was when she left my side
And she is just as able to bear her load
of living freight
To the place of her destination.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone
at my side says:
“There, she is gone!”
There are other eyes watching
her coming,
And other voices to take up
the glad shout,
“Hear she comes!”
And that is dying.
Victor Hugo, from Toilers of the Sea.