Bernard Verbiski
Lieu de naissance : Glace Bay
Date de naissance : 19 mars 1925
Date de décès : 26 novembre 2012
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Bernard ‘Bernie’ Verbiski on Nov. 26, 2012 at Parkwood Hospital, London, Ont.
Born in Glace Bay on March 19, 1925, Bernie was the son of John and Angela (Strickey) Verbiski. Bernie was a devote member of Holy Cross Church, Glace Bay.
Bernie is the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Family meant everything to Bernie; besides his parents, Bernie was predeceased by siblings, Frank, John, Norman, Aulay, Minnie (Buckley), Josie (Smith), Harriet (Prus), and a twin sister Bernadette ‘Etta’.
Surviving are many nieces and nephews.
Bernie spent 45 years in the coal mining industry and was a longtime union activist. He started as a coal miner with the Dominion Coal Company at Caledonia (#4) Colliery where he was employed for 19 years. For the next 14 years, Bernie worked for the Cape Breton Development Corporation (DEVCO) at New Aberdeen (#26) Colliery. His final 12 years was spent with DEVCO at the Machine Shop, Glace Bay.
Throughout his career, Bernie held a number of key positions with the mining locals. He was recording secretary, financial secretary, and president of death benefit plans. Further, Bernie was also on the Miners Relief Committee and was a delegate of Caledonia Local Union to the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour. He was an International United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) delegate for Nova Scotia and an International Board Member for District 26. Bernie was the Resolutions Committee Chairperson for various UMWA Locals.
Bernie served on the Committee for Glace Bay Catholic Cemeteries as well as the Glace Bay Development Committee. He campaigned for various politicians in the Caledonia area over the years. Bernie was on the board of directors of the Caledonia Credit Union and was a former officer of the Holy Cross Holy Name Society. Bernie was a member of the St. Anthony Men's Church Choir. He served on a committee for the initial development of the Miners Museum in Glace Bay.
There will be a memorial gathering at V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 16 Reserve St., Glace Bay at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012 with a funeral mass to follow at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, Glace Bay. Interment will be in St. Anne's Cemetery, Glace Bay.
As an expression of sympathy for Bernie, donations in his memory may be made to St. Anne's Cemetery Fund or a charity of one's choice.
Condolences to the family can be expressed at www.vjmcgillivray.ca.
