Sgt. James Patrick 'Little Jimmy' MacNeil
Lieu de naissance : Glace Bay, Nouvelle Ecosse, Canada
Date de naissance : 17 juillet 1981
Lieu de décès : 2010/06/21, Afghanistan
Date de décès : 21 juin 2010
Sgt. James Patrick 'Little Jimmy' MacNeil, a member of the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment based at CFB Petawawa, passed away on Monday, June 21, 2010, in Afghanistan during his 4th tour of duty.
Born in Glace Bay, July 17, 1981, Jimmy was the son of James Patrick MacNeil and Velma MacNeil (nee Stubbard).
Jimmy attended Bridgeport Elementary School and then went on to Glace Bay High; where he graduated in 1999. He then joined the military obtaining the rank of Sergeant. After his 3rd tour of duty in Afghanistan, Jimmy received the Master Corporal of the Year Award. Upon receiving this award he advanced quickly through the ranks. He was serving with the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment.
Jimmy had a great sense of humour and a smile for everybody; he always looked for the good in each person he encountered. Jimmy loved baseball, rugby and the Montreal Canadiens. He loved his country and was a proud Caper. Some of his best times were spent with his family, wifey and her daughter, Ava Grace.
Besides his parents, Jimmy is survived by his stepdad, Al Burke; stepmom, Hellen MacNeil (Lynd)' his fiancée, who he referred to as 'Wifey', Laura Boutilier and her daughter, Jimmy's best friend, Ava Grace 'Fwend'; stepsister, Sharon Burke and her son, Lilcoln 'The Lilcolnator'; stepbrother, Donald Rogers and his daughter, Lila. Jimmy is survived by godchild, Shaylene Moore; godparents, Robbie and Joanne MacKinnon; aunts and uncles on his mom's side, George, Erville (Billy), Judy Stubbard, Josie (Sonny) Timmons, Marion (Stan) Saccary, Lilly Paulin (Sam), Maurina (Fred) Lynk, Carol (James)Williams and Gerry (Ernel) Turnbull. Left to mourn his passing are aunts and uncles on his Dad's side of the family, Diane Layes, Joey (Bonnie) MacNeil, Gerard MacNeil, Vangie (Randy) Isenor, Cal (Wanda) MacNeil, Donna MacLaughlin; stepgrandmother, Jean MacLean; many aunts, uncles on both the Burke and MacLean side of the family; many cousins, special cousins, Ernel (Val) Turnbull Jr. and their children, Dylon and Kyra, Shauna and Wayne Donovan and their children, Tytan and Gerilynne and Jacklyn Turnbull, Tonya and Cal MacNeil; special army friend, Richie Burns, whom he called his big brother; and many more friends, too many to mention, whom he loved dearly.
Jimmy was predeceased by maternal grandparents, Isa and Rod Stubbard, paternal grandparents, Tootsie and Hughie MacNeil, uncles, Shelly Stubbard, Leonard Paulin and Sandy Layes.
Visitation will be held in the V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home,16 Reserve St., Glace Bay, N.S., 902-849-4505, with the funeral mass being celebrated in Immaculate Conception Church, Bridgeport. Interment to follow in the parish cemetery. The date and time of the visitation and funeral mass will be announced by the V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, Glace Bay, in a later edition of the Cape Breton Post.
Online condolences to the family can be expressed through the funeral home website www.vjmcgillivray.ca.
We knew him, he lived, he felt,
He was as vibrant, as energetic, as immmortal
As you and I.
He was brave.
He fell for peace and for freedom
And the service of our country.
Many may argue about the futility
Of death and war,
But one should never forget,
That he died, not in vain,
But in honour.
Many times down through the years
Our country has called, and many
Men and women have answered the call.
Let us not forget our fallen comrade,
But remember him always,
For he has earned our respect
And admiration with his life.
We knew him
We remember and he will not be
Forgotten.
