ASTEPHEN, ABRAHAM S. - 87 - Saint John/North Sydney - It is with great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Abraham "Abe" Astephen, age 87, formerly of North Sydney, on Sunday, June 12, 2011 at the Ridgewood Veterans Wing, Saint John, N.B., where he resided the last number of years. Born in North Sydney, Abe was the son of the late Abraham and Rose (Balah) Astephen. He was a Veteran of the Second World War serving overseas with the Canadian Army. He was a businessman and managed of the former Sealanes Bingo Hall and later the Centennial Diner, in North Sydney. Abe was a former member of St. Joseph Church, North Sydney, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #19, and the Northern Yacht Club, North Sydney. Abe is survived by his children, daughter Adele Kelly, Saint John and her children Robin and Corey and great-grandchild Milo, two sons George, Markham, Ont., and his children Catherine and Jeannie, and Paul (Yang Yang), Bejing, China and his son Jonathan Boudreau, daughter-in-law Della Astephen, Saint John and her children Lynaya McKinley, Sara Astephen, and great grandchildren Katie and Emily. Also surviving are his two sisters Margaret Hilcox, Stratford, Ont, and Rose Zukowski, Cornwall, Ont., also surviving is Louise Astephen and step-son Lloyd MacIntosh and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son David, his brothers Stephen and Joseph, and sisters Mary MacDonald, Josephine Meers and Adele Barrett.
Visitation for Abe will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant Street, North Sydney. Funeral Mass to be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Church with Rev. Jake Andrea officiating. Burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Sydney. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice. A Memorial service for Abe will also be held at Ridgewood Veterans Wing, Saint John, N.B. at a later date. Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com.