McGOVERN, JOHN
As of February 28 2015, John Douglas McGovern rests at peace; age 54. It was not an easy journey by any estimation; but he met the challenges head on with resilient stubbornness, stalwart courage, and uncompromising humour. In the face of great suffering, he became an incredible comfort to those who would witnesses the cruelty of his relentless cancer.
As testament to his courage, he remained a dedicated Edmonton Oiler’s fan. Still, he delighted in liking and sharing on Facebook the latest in a long stream of Oiler’s jokes, even though as a fan he was a butt of the joke by reason of association. Likewise, but to a lesser degree, the Blue Jays could do no wrong (or right) in his eyes.
He delighted in his children, wife, family, grandchildren, and garden and was busy always at something. His capacity and love of hard work and his unmitigated determination defined him as a child of Tom and Shirley; as did his love of family and devotion to friends. Challenged by near complete hearing loss as a baby, he refused to succumb to physical limitations, and chose to meet all challenges head on. Starting as a Mail Boy at the Saint John Dry Dock, he worked his way through the ranks; eventually supervising those in his Welding Inspector trade.
Socially and vocationally he flourished in spite of his hearing loss, and subsequent incomplete access to information; access that most of us take for granted. He did the same in all of his life.
His profound love of his children (Melissa and husband Kelly LeBlanc; Carrie and husband Seb Domitin); step-children (Chelsea and Josh Dean); and grandchildren (Jayden, Riley, Maddox, Lennox, Emma and Ava) was evident to all. He adored his parents Tom and Shirley and loved/was loved by surviving wife Beverly (Frigault Dean) and mom Leota Frigault, siblings Pat, Judy and Mikki, Mark and Roland (Tommy, Lauren and Julia), and Ethel and Tom (Patrick and Jillian) and numerous awesome extended family members. Predeceased by his father Thomas, beloved grandparents (McGovern and Debow), several uncles and aunts, niece Erin and cousin David, John et al now are reunited in the afterlife; but we doubt even their divine intervention will help the Oilers.
RIP grandson, son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, cousin, nephew and friend. We will celebrate your life with a Memorial Mass to be celebrated at Stella Maris Church, Bayside Drive on Saturday, March 7th at 12:00 Noon with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall.