Albert Berkley Vardy
Born: January 27th, 1945
Passed on: April 16th, 2008
63, Bras d’Or A loving heart stopped beating on April 16, 2008. We regretfully announce the passing of Berkley Vardy, 63, of Little Bras d’Or, N.S. Born Jan. 27, 1945 in Harbourmille, N.L., Berkley was the youngest son of the late George and Josephine (Pardy) Vardy. Berkley trained at the College of Trades and Technology in St. John’s, N.L., and began his career as a medical laboratory technologist in Gander, N.L. It was in Gander that Berk met Betty, his wife of 40 years. In 1970, Berkley moved to North Sydney. He was employed at the Northside General Hospital for 35 years and was the department head of the chemistry lab before he retired in 2005. He was a parishioner at Trinity Anglican Church in Sydney Mines, where he gave his spare time and spirit willingly, as a parish council and choir member. He was a hard worker who enjoyed woodworking and in retirement, bragged that his lawn was comparable to that of a golf course. Berkley especially enjoyed time with his grand children. Poppa will be missed! Berkley is survived by his wife, Betty (Gillingham); his daughter, Rhea (Duncan) MacPhee; his sons, Paul (Sylvia) and Mark (Tina Ciappara); his adoring grandchildren, Rachael and Monica MacPhee, Lauren and Charlotte Vardy and Hunter Stevens. He is also survived by his brothers, Wallace (Hazel) and Clyde; and sisters, Laura (Reuben) Barnes, Olive (John) Poole and Rebecca Bryan; and father-in-law, Reginald Gillingham. Berkley was predeceased by his parents, his sisters, Frances (Morton) Cameron, Ida (John) Penney, Blanche (William) Freebourne, brothers, William and Herbert, an infant sister, and mother-in-law, Renie Gillingham. There will be no visitation by request. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held Saturday 2 p.m. from Trinity Anglican Church, Queen Street, Sydney Mines, with Rev. Peter Rafuse officiating. In lieu of flowers; memorial donations may be made to En Cala, The Stars for Life Foundation for Autism (P.E.I.) or a charity of one’s choice. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, North Sydney. Online condolences for the Vardy family may be sent to info@wjdooley.com. Strength and courage aren’t always measured in medals and victories. They are measured in the struggles they overcome. The strongest people aren’t always the people who win, but the people who don’t give up when they lose. — Ashley Hodgeson
