Earl 'Diddy' Durdle
Lieu de naissance : New Melbourne, Terre-Neuve, Canada
Date de naissance : 14 septembre 1915
Lieu de décès : SYDNEY, Nouvelle Ecosse, Canada
Date de décès : 1er mars 2012
Family and friends are saddened to announce of the loss of a great man with the passing of Earl ‘Diddy’ Durdle. Diddy peacefully passed away March 1, 2012, at his residence in the Harbourstone Enhanced Care facility, Sydney.
He will live long in the hearts of everyone who knew him or had contact with him over the course of his 96 years. Those who knew him were charmed with his wit, his passion for storytelling and his remarkable ability to recite poetry.
Diddy was born in New Melbourne, Nfld., to George and Melina (Thorne) Durdle and was the eldest of 11 children. He was self-educated and had an insatiable love of literature.
At age 14, he went to work in the coal mines in New Waterford to help the family during the Depression. He worked hard, was promoted to underground management and was also a dragger man. Those who worked with Diddy spoke highly of him. He loved the work, often noting that the comradery experienced in the pit was like no other. When he retired in 1974, he took up residence in his favorite place on the planet, his cottage in Pt. Michaud. He loved to walk the beach. He lived there until becoming ill in 2000 when he moved to Sydney to live with his daughter Brenda. He was able to continue to visit at Pt. Michaud until the last few years, which he spent at Harbourstone. When his dear friend Edward Madden passed away, Diddy took over Edward’s role as Mayor of Pt. Michaud.
His door was always open and he trusted everyone; he was generous and honest. He had a great sense of humour and loved to make people feel good.
Diddy was married to Josephine ‘Jo’ (Johnstone) Durdle, the love of his life, who passed away in 1969.
He leaves behind his loving daughter, Brenda (Jim MacDonald); brothers, Len (Gladys) and Bernie (Brenda) and sister, Winnie (Tom) Ball. His loss will be deeply felt by his extended family of nieces and nephews, their children and members of his Madden family at Pt. Michaud and his many friends of all ages.
Besides his wife Jo and his parents, he was also predeceased by sisters, Belle (John) Pyke, Myrtle (Rod) MacDonald and Hazel and brothers, Ches (Effie), Norman (Freda), Edward (Eileen) and Allister ‘Diddle’ (Tootsie).
Cremation has taken place under the direction of V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith St., New Waterford. With respect to Ditty’s wishes there will be no visitation or funeral service.
His firm request was that Pt. Michaud be his final resting place. This will take place at some, as yet, undetermined time this summer.
Diddy’s preferred charity was the Multiple Sclerosis Society, but he would be happy if you were to make memorial donations in his memory to any charity of your choice.
Diddy, quoting Tennyson, said many times, “Let there be no moaning at the bar…when I embark”.
Online condolences to the family can be expressed at www.vjmcgillivray.ca.
