W. Douglas ‘Gugga’ Thorne
Date de décès : 24 août 2017
It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of W. Douglas ‘Gugga’ Thorne on August 24, 2017, at age 91.
Born in Saint John, NB, he spent his many years in Sydney, Judique, Belleisle, NB and Stewiacke, before returning to Sydney, where he resided at Harbourstone Enhanced Care.
He was predeceased by his wife, Beulah (MacLeod) of New Waterford - or ‘Clarey’, as he called her.
He is survived by his sister, Nita (Gordon) Madill, Bridgewater; sons, Doug (Jane), Sydney, Robert ‘Beaver’ (Lisa), Mabou and Lloyd, Red Islands; daughter, Wendy (Marty), Sydney; six grandchildren, Jayne, Douglas, Chris, Taylor, Mark and LeeAnne; six great-grandchildren, Melanie, AJ, Damian, Hannah, Kaleb and Devon; one great-great-granddaughter, Alexis; special niece, Audrey MacNeil and a number of other nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.
A former member of the RCMP, Doug operated his own insurance adjustment business before retiring in New Brunswick. However, he was best known for his 5 a.m. phone calls, woodshop creations, harmonica and accordion serenades, bear hugs and bear stories, trucker's breakfasts, weeding the garden with his Walsy, using a duck call to get his wife’s attention, going on tour in the car-car and eating his “sammiches” before reaching the Causeway. He was always the life of the party and had an incredible sense of humour. He always provided the entertainment, from the New Brunswick pig roasts to his final days of hiding chocolate bars behind the nursing home curtains. Known to many as “the Donas” – a rough translation of “little devil” in Gaelic – he greeted everyone with “ciamar a tha thu” (cam-id-a-houw) and his door was always open.
At his request, there will be no service and cremation has taken place.
Memorials may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
Grá go deo.
Words of comfort can be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or e-mail sydneymemorialchapel@ns.symaptico.ca.
