Nicholas Mitchell

To Nicholas Mitchell, life was to be experienced, shared and enjoyed. An intelligent, optimistic, and confident individual, he was a man who lived each day with gratitude. To everyone around him, he seemed to be everyone’s friend and mentor. His circle of friends knew no boundaries. Wherever he landed he was among people who loved and cared for him. He willingly shared his time and when needed his means and good fortune. . For Nicholas, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile. He was a man with a twinkle in his eye, a gregarious smile and a witty personality. With just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions and calm a situation quickly. Nicholas really mastered the art of living and loving. He was a man among men.

Nicholas was born on September 13, 1924 in Detroit, Michigan, United States. He moved to Canada in his infancy and attained dual citizenship during his mid-life years. His parents, Anna and Nicholas were known to be loving and caring as they happily raised their only son. They were all of Polish descent and could speak both English and Ukrainian. In Canada, they bought and lived on a poultry farm which they operated in RR#2 Brantford, Ontario. Keeping the family busy, they also owned a small gas station in the community.. Nick’s love of the outdoors and value of hard work was rooted in his upbringing. Nicholas had fond memories of riding on his father’s bike to go fishing and also shared many times how much he enjoyed taking his wagon to pick apples for his mother. He would then go to the Brantford Market with his parents where they sold fruits and vegetables at a stand. Nick always honoured and respected his parents who not only provided a loving home but taught him the importance of a strong work ethic. He was raised to be a strong, confident and friendly individual who could adapt and embrace all social situations.

As a child, Nicholas was always a good playmate. He was easy going and fun loving and wanted to be with others. He had many friends and cousins with whom he played regularly. He grew to have an outgoing personality, an affinity for the outdoors and enthusiasm for life. Early in life he enjoyed music, roller skating, fishing, hunting and later in life trap shooting. He was also involved in Ukrainian dancing as a child. He loved to fix things and was an effective problem solver. He enjoyed school and to the pleasure of his parents valued people having a good education and those who used common sense. Nicholas had a playful demeanor and was always one to play tricks and tease. With a good head on his shoulders, Nicholas had a musical intelligence and learned to play the accordion, violin and harmonica. He loved music and one could see the tear in his eye if he heard a familiar hymn. Arguably, one of Nicks’ greatest gifts in life was his ability to compromise and ease tense situations. He had a discerning mind and more than a generous dose of common sense that few could argue.

Ask anyone who knew him Nicholas simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Nicholas, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but rather what he learned and was able to apply. Since experience was Nicholas's best teacher, his vocational education evidenced that he enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Nicholas graduated from Branford Collegiate Institute. There he completed two years of high school and an additional three year technical and vocational program giving him his high school diploma. It was upon completion that Nick volunteered to serve in the Navy. He entered the Navy as a stoker on many ships and the embraced the opportunity with the navy to register and learn to be an electrical artificer. His natural ability and keen interest in learning, led him to complete this course and afford him a new position with the navy as an Electrical Artificer on more ships. Underlying this achievement, Nick seemed to know that he would someday be using his hard work ethic and intelligence to embark upon being a successful self-taught contractor, property owner and investor.

But for Nicholas, life was not a case of all work and no play. He loved his leisure, appreciated that he had a good life and remained a good, trustworthy, discerning and loyal friend to countless people. Nicholas never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals from all walks of life. He was easy to talk to and an even better listener. These qualities allowed Nicholas to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Nicholas delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, opening his home to all. He especially enjoyed the visits of his step daughters and would often ask which one was coming to visit today. He loved to be smothered with love and affection and easily returned it in a genuine manner. He always told others how much he loved them. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Nicholas was right with himself and did not have a restless soul and because of that he could ease the minds and worries of others. His optimism was contagious. Growing up Nick’s best friends were the White brothers. They enjoyed going to each other’s company and homes. Later in life he cherished his friendships with Roger Chabot, Robert Hooker, Betty Warren, Heather and Al Thring, Peter Lennie, Edwin Pine and Tom Buller. He had many, many friends, too many to acknowledge them all. But he dearly respected each one of them and held them close to his heart.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Nicholas very easy to approach. With all his closest friends and family present, he married the love of his life Jennie Jefferies. They enjoyed a 13 year relationship together starting September 4, 2001. The celebration of his marriage to Jennie Jefferies took place at the Olde School House in Brantford, Ontario on December 4, 2011. Nick’s best man was his son Jim Mitchell. Jennie was given away by her son John Lynas. The maid of honour was her first born daughter Crystal Jefferies- White. Daughter in law Cindy Lynas and grand-daughter Megan Lynas were both bridesmaids. Perhaps the reason Nicholas related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children and loving Jenny’s children. Nicholas was blessed with two sons, Robert James and David Mitchell and after marrying Jenny, fondly embraced and blessed the lives of Crystal Jefferies White, Arlene Lynas-Dobie, Kim McDonald, John Lynas and Jackie Sekula. The generation of grandchildren and great grandchildren were also wrapped in love from Nick. His enormous smile captivated all when he was in the company of James, Nicholas, Rory and great grandson Kyle Mitchell. He adored Lyndsay Benson, Alexandra Wells, James White, Jordan Clavette, Jared and Chase White, Cale and Paris McDonald and the youngest grandchild, Megan Lynas. He then took joy in having his great grandchildren Will and Jack Benson, Hunter White and Kipling Wells enter the world and sprinkle it with stardust. Nicholas had a heart filled with love and spent little time worrying. He kept himself present and focused on what really mattered and devoted him to whatever each day would bring. Nicholas's compassionate side was most present when any of his children and extended family members was in genuine need. He did not exclude his friends, nor did he keep a tally. His spirit of giving was well thought out and given from the heart and mind. He asked only that what he gave be used wisely and not be taken for granted. He was a man who meant what he said and said what he meant.

At work, as in life, Nicholas was a real “people person”. He was a strong and, methodical businessman. He had a discerning way in dealing with others and business. When faced with adversity or challenges, he was both firm and fair. Sometime a handshake would suffice, other times a written agreement would be warranted. With each, he seemed to intuitively know which was needed with whom. As mentioned earlier and prior to his farming and construction ventures, Nicholas was initially a level 2 Stoker in the Royal Canadian Navy. His veteran number was V59497. He performed that role on some 6 or 7 ships. The navy sent him to the University of Alberta to receive training in a much needed area of work as an Electrical Artificer crew member. The ships he then travelled on were the ships who u boats commissioned to protect the convoy of ships going to Britain. Nicholas served 437 days and received 5 medals for his service and contributions. As a highlight from the war, Nick and his comrades were afforded the opportunity to meet and have Tea with the then Princess Elizabeth of England. His deployment took him to many countries including England, Germany and France. Once he became an electrical artificer he worked on the ship built in British Columbia in 1942 named the Springhill K323. It was a River Class Frigate, named after Springhill Nova Scotia that was launched on Sept 7. 1943 and commissioned to war on March 21, 1944 through to December 1, 1945. Interestingly, Springhill was the community that Nick and Jennie spent their winter months in Florida as snowbirds and avid card players with yet another huge circle of friends.

Although he would not consider himself an athlete, Nicholas relished competitive outdoors activities such as trap shooting, hunting and fishing. He loved the outdoors and the rapture of wildlife. As an avid outdoorsman, marksman, fisherman and duck hunter he excelled. He spent a lot of time with his family and grandson engaging in outdoor sport and hunting. He shared many a story of their hunting and cottage time together.

Vested with a deep concern for all things spiritual, Nicholas recognized that his faith was an important part of his good fortune and it came with a duty to help those who could not help themselves. He was a United Church member and a Christian man known to few, he was a founding member of “Christ the Church” on Thaler Avenue, Kitchener Ontario. He remained a quiet Christian with the gift of giving and helping, never losing sight of his own blessings.

His commitment to community was important to him. He worked closely and held membership with Kinsmen club, the Legion Branch 50 and Moose Lodge in Florida, USA. Intelligent, perceptive and generous, Nicholas was regularly doing things for others. Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Nicholas often was seen being thanked and acknowledged for his contributions and abilities. Noteworthy, was his community involvement and work for and with senior citizens. Nicholas was sensitive to those who had special needs, those with disabilities or those simply struggling with day to day rigors. He never took for granted that he had been and used his means to help. Nick was not a bored man; he was naturally curious and eager to learn every day of his life. He read every day and stayed on top of current events and able to have many an intelligent conversation. He enjoyed fixing things, watching game and talk shows and nightly dramas on television. He collected ducks and decoys, guns and wooden canes. He travelled at times in his life to Hawaii, enjoyed an Alaskan and Caribbean cruise but as life went on he found comfort and vacation in his homes in Bala, Springhill and Brantford. The simple pleasures in life came from being with friends and family. Nicholas was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. As a child Nick had a family dog and a cat named “Kitty Kat”. They were best friends and some say “Kitty Kat” lived for 20 years.

Nicholas believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. Successfully Nick was able to retire very early in life. This did not mean he was idle. He was on the go and his focus then became family, his hobbies, community and his friends. Nicholas took life and retirement in stride, just one more leg of his life. His new life revolved around those he cared about in Kitchener, Brantford, Bala and Springhill, Florida. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Nicholas remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in being with his wife and enjoying his homes. He loved his children and grandchildren. He loved a home-made pie, asparagus, cherries, peaches, apples and grapes and a plateful of shrimp. He was always up for a game of cards and never “missed a trick.” He remained a witty, charming, insightful and competent man who chose his words wisely and his activities with eagerness. He was thoughtful about his decisions and meant what he said. He made those he cared about feel loved and was not shy in sharing his love and affection. Nick was a handsome, intelligent, unassuming man who defied his age. His gregarious smile and heightened sense of optimism never let him down. His love of God’s word and loyalty to his many friends and family kept him actively engaged his entire life. He sought to see the best in everyone and was generous with his praise. He respected those who worked hard and accepted and that life was not to be a free ride but a ride to free us. Even in the winter of his life, Nicholas made a concerted effort to stay optimistic and open to all. He welcomed all into his heart and arms and simply made you smile. May his time in heaven and in the arms of his father in heaven, make him feel the measure of happiness he created well on earth.

Nicholas passed away on August 12, 2014 at Brantford General Hospital as the result of heart failure. He is survived by his sons, grandsons, his wife Jennie Jefferies and her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Services were held at Thorpe Brothers Funeral Home. Nicholas was laid to rest in Mount Hope Cemetery at West Street and Charing Cross. Brantford, Ontario. Let us all remember the joy and optimism that marked Nick’s life and in his memory do not worry, for where there is life, there is hope.

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Mitchell; Nicholas

Peacefully with the love of his blended family at his side, at the Brantford General Hospital on Tuesday August 12, 2014 in his 90th year. Predeceased by his parents Nick and Anna of Brantford. Loving husband of Jennie and predeceased by his first wife Helen. Dear father of R. James (Jim) (Veronika) and their children Christine (Will) Stone, James R. (Crystal) and great grandson Kyle. David Mitchell and his children Nicholas and Rory. Crystal Jefferies White (Jimbo) and their children James (Mel) and their son Hunter, Jared and Chase White. Arlene Lynas Dobie (Don) and their son Jordan. Kim McDonald (Graeme) and their children Alexandra Wells (Brent) and their son Kipling, Cale and Paris McDonald. John Lynas (Cindy) and their daughter Megan; Jacqueline Sekula (Andrzej) and their daughter Lyndsay Benson (Robert) and their children Will and Jack.

Nick served with honour as an Officer of the Royal Canadian Navy and was a proud member of Branch 50 of the Royal Canadian Legion. He was committed to service through the K-W Kinsmen Club, K 40, Board Member of the Sunnyside Seniors Day Program, founding member of Christ the King United Church, Kitchener and instrumental in the building of Thaler Retirement Manor Inc. He was an avid outdoorsman enjoying hunting, fishing and trap shooting. He was a longtime member of the Wilmot Rod & Gun Club.

The family will receive friends at the “Thorpe Brothers Funeral Home & Chapel”, 96 West Street, Brantford on Sunday August 17th from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm. A Celebration of his life will be held in the chapel on Monday August 18th at 1:00 pm. Interment Mount Hope Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, donations to the War Amps, the Brant Community Health Care Foundation or to the Sunnyside Seniors Day Care Program would be appreciated.

On line condolence may be offered at www.thorpebrothersfh.com.