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Joaquim 'Jack' Mira Sr.

Joaquim 'Jack' Mira Sr. Joaquim 'Jack' Mira Sr.

Born In: Portugal

Passed in: Louisbourg
Passed on: June 24th, 2015

“Goodbye My Friend!”
It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we announce the passing of a “Great Fisherman”, our dear father, husband and grandfather, on June 24, 2015, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital after a very courageous and unexpected illness, which he fought hard to overcome. He was 79.
Jack was born and raised in Praia de Buarcos, Portugal, to his mother Silvina Cacoa, and father, Antonio Martins Mirao.
He always had a love of the sea. His blue eyes always glistened just like the waters. He became known as a great fisherman, No. 1 both on land and on sea. At the age of 13 years, Jack became a fisherman, helping his father on their small boat and making and repairing nets, which he excelled at. As a young boy, he was also responsible for knocking on the doors of the many women helpers who would in the early hours have to go to the coastline and help bring in the small vessels, filled with fish. Jack became known as a young boy who had a special ability to work and catch lots of fish and this is what made him most happy – “to catch lots of fish” as he would say many times.
He was acquired by the most famous fishing captains in Portugal, who said they needed him aboard their boats to become fishing champions of the sea. Jack held five different fishing licence certificates and special training certificates such as Captain, Mate, Net-maker, etc. for in Portugal you needed to take special courses and training to call yourself a true fisherman and be a champion of the waters. Not everyone was suited for this.
When Jack was 18, he left his parents to engage in the Great White fleet, leaving the mother ship and going out in his little dory (#2) for periods of six months, all in attempts to catch codfish on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, many times under dangerous conditions with just a small lunch aboard. He was hailed by his captains as being the fisherman onboard to chart the top of the lists for having the most fish in his dory.
He always said God would fill his boat and that’s exactly how things went along life’s way. He knew how to do it all in the fishing world, and making knots was also something he excelled at.
Jack immigrated to Canada in 1966, not knowing a single word of English, but what he did know was how to work hard from his experiences in Portugal and make a better life for himself and his family. This is what he set out to do and became very successful at. He left his wife Manuela, and son Jack Jr. (five years old) back in Portugal and settled in Louisbourg alone, no house, no shelter, not knowing how to speak or ask for food or water, but he found shelter in places near the wharf and sometimes in a restaurant downtown.
Many times, he told stories of being very cold and having his knees freeze in the snow while trying to make it here. It wasn’t easy and he did it all for his family. He was a man of great sacrifice.
When Jack arrived in Louisbourg, he began working on the draggers and there he had a place to sleep with food and water available. He communicated and learned from what he saw others do. Once he made enough money, he sent it back to Portugal to send for his wife and son to join him here and start a new life together in Louisbourg. He fished on many vessels, trawlers and herring seiners and one of the greatest ones was called “Margaret Elizabeth” where he made most of his money, catching sardines and working on those nets off the coast of Mulgrave and Yarmouth. He was able to make enough to send back to Portugal to build his mom and dad a home there. He later returned to Louisbourg to fish on other boats, but he never went without a job. He worked with the best fishing captains in Louisbourg, such as Orlando Vallis, Walter Blagdon and Joe Pitcher. He worked at National Sea Products fishplant and the Portuguese Plant and later decided to build his own boat with his son Jack Jr, naming it “Marie Elizabeth”. He then continued working on town grants until his retirement.
Jack was a very humble natured man who worked hard for everything he had. He was respected by many and always greeted his many friends with a “Hello, my friend”. Jack enjoyed many things, but cherished most of all spending time with his daughter Elizabeth, whom he regarded as his best friend, caregiver and “right hand”. She tried her hardest to always help him. Where you saw one, you saw the other! They were inseparable and a great comfort to each other and loved each other’s company. They were very attached.
Jack also loved to take walks in Louisbourg, talking to his many friends who he’d meet here and there. He would go and check out the latest vehicles and watch soccer on TV. He enjoyed visiting his daughter, Gloria in New Brunswick and always ensured there was wood in the stove during winter. He was known for keeping the house warm. He also enjoyed going to the Sydney Airport to watch the flights take off and land, while picking up Gloria.
He loved his five grandchildren, Kayla, Victoria, Colton, Alexis and Carter and had many laughs with them. His wife Manuela always stood by his side for the 56 years they were married and he always enjoyed her company and many trips to Sydney together.
Besides his loving wife Manuela, he is survived by his daughter Elizabeth (who always helped care for him), daughter Gloria (Jeff) and daughter-in-law Susan; five grandchildren. He is also survived by sister Laura and brother Antonio, several nieces, nephews, and other relatives in Portugal and many close friends both here and abroad.
Jack was predeceased by his maternal and paternal grandparents, his mother Silvina, father Antonio and son Jack Jr. (2000) who was always a great helper and whom he kept in his heart. Now they are together watching over us in Heaven.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, June 27 at 10 a.m. Burial will take place in Jack’s home village in Portugal.
Condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting www.twcurry.com.
My best friend is like no other. When I was a baby he held me when I cried, washed my face when it got dirty and fed me when I was hungry. When I was stumbling to learn to walk he picked me up. When I was ready to venture without training wheels on my first bike, he gave me a gentle push and walked beside me. When I crossed the road he held my hand. When he went places he brought me with him. As I explored teen hood he understood my emotions and helped me through them. He forgave me when I did things I shouldn’t have and corrected me when I went wrong.
When I entered my twenties he became proud of me and all my accomplishments when I went off to work, got my first jeep and experienced life as an adult. By the time I hit my thirties my best friend was in his 70s. I now took him flying, held his hand when he walked, picked him up when he fell down, held him when he cried and fed him when he was hungry. I forgave him when he did something out of the usual, washed his face when it got dirty, and became more proud of him every day when I saw the inner strength he had. My best friend was my Dad. He never judged me or tried to change who I was. He was kind, loving and the Dad everyone should have. Dad went to heaven on June 24, 2015. The hardest thing to deal with is the loneliness. I know he is resting and in good hands. As God has now taken on my roll of caregiver and can do a much better job. Gone but not forgotten.
To The best Dad in the world, I love you forever. - Daughter Elizabeth.


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