TILLEY, MICHAEL LESLIE - 1964-2014 - With deep sadness, Ron, Arvella, Janice and Mary received word on Thursday, June 12, that their son and brother, Michael Tilley of Bourganeuf, France, lost his hard-fought battle with multiple myeloma. He celebrated his 50th birthday on May 23. Michael was born in Fredericton, NB in 1964, and grew up in New Maryland, NB. He graduated from Fredericton High in 1982, enrolled at Carleton University in Ottawa in the fall, and later joined the Young Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. As leader of the YPC, Michael was thrilled to accompany then Prime Minister of Canada, Joe Clark, on a speaking engagement in Moncton, NB. When the PM discovered at the last minute that his pants needed pressing, Michael came to the rescue. He took Mr. Clark's pants to his Aunt Doreen, who lived only minutes from the venue. Not for Michael a 9 to 5 routine: he lived and worked in many places, from selling cars and vacuum cleaners in Halifax, to operating his own businesses: the Rose and Punch Bowl in England - his father's birthplace - and, later, a bed and breakfast in Barcelona, Spain. The family joked that they needed a separate address book just to keep track of Michael's many changes of address and phone numbers. Michael got the travel bug at an early age and began backpacking around Europe in his early twenties, settling only once in the shadow of the famous Rock of Gibraltar. In subsequent years, he visited such diverse places as Holland, Greece, Turkey, Australia, Tahiti, Mexico and more. He travelled alone, with friends, with his dad, his sister, Janice, and his partner, Thierry Briand. He marvelled at the Taj Mahal in India and the Great Pyramids in Egypt. Michael leaves to mourn his mom and dad, Ron and Arvella Tilley of New Maryland, NB; sisters, Janice Tilley of Moncton, NB and Mary (Adolphe) Hache of Chelmsford; nieces, Erin and Kate; and nephew, Adrian, also of Chelmsford. In France, Michael leaves his partner, Thierry Briand, of Bourganeuf and Thierry's family. Special aunts, uncles and cousins, nieces, nephews and friends - on both sides of the Atlantic - also mourn Michael's passing.
Cremation took place in Limoges, France, on Tuesday, June 17, 2014. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor's choice and personal condolences may be left at www.bishopsfuneralhome.com