It is with over-whelming sadness we announce the death of a much loved, very good man: the irrepressible dyna mo "Bernie" James, consummate husband, father, loving grandfather, attentive neighbour and friend to all, who slipped away from us silently in his sleep during the early hours of August 12th, 2017. He was the last child born to Caroline "Carrie" and John James on December 16th, 1931 on a pimple of granite called Vatcher's Island off Burgeo, N.L. The family moved to Halifax in 1938, settling on Hunter Street, where Dad attended Chebucto Road School. As a seven-year old boy, he shouldered responsibility unique to the Greatest Generation, supplementing his family's meager income by selling newspapers for the "Herald and Mail" during the dark days of the Second World War. Losing his father to Lou Gehrig' Disease in 1943, and with two older brothers at sea, Bernie soldiered on at home with brother Jack and older sisters Gertie and Lucy. A story he loved to tell was how he "hooked off school" during the infamous VE Day Riots selling $57 worth of Heralds. "That would be worth a quarter of a million dollars today". (As with any good storyteller, exaggeration was his strong suit.) And could that man ever tell a joke! In fact, it was this personality trait that endeared him to so many, winning lifelong friends with his brothers-in-arms at Maritime Tel and Tel. where he worked for 38 years. In 1951 this job brought him to Glace Bay, Cape Breton and into the company of a cute, jovial brunette operator Joyce "Joycee" MacDonald, who bore him two children, Ron, Toronto, and Heather (Brad) Munroe, Upper Tantallon. Dad loved his years in Cape Breton and the people he met either travelling the Highlands for work, fishing its streams or hunting its woodlands. While in Glace Bay he joined the Masonic Lodge and Shriners, participating eagerly until MT&T transferred him to Halifax in '67, where he moved to a house he called "home" for the next 50 years, surrounded by "the very best neighbours a man could ever hope to find", with a permanent welcome mat at his front door rolled out for any and all who crossed it. Bernie was an enthusiastic Maple Leafs fan who "bled true blue" his entire life and watching a game with this animated ball of energy was better than actually seeing it live at rink-side! The same goes for his love of the Blue Jays, local sporting events and the fight game. When his granddaughters played competitive soccer and basketball, he and his trusted "wingman" Joycee, never missed a game come rain or shine. Blessed with four beautiful granddaughters, Cayley, Gracie, Morgan and Kelti, whom he showered with praise and spoke of with pride, his home on Oxford Street was filled constantly with life, laughter,
friends and family, whose foundation stood solid as the rock he was born to. The world will not see his likes again. Bernie was predeceased by brothers, Ken, Jack, Percy, and sister, Gertie. The last surviving family member is Lucy, aged 92 in Blainville, Que. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Visitations will be held Tuesday, August 15th, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Dr., Halifax. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. August 16th in St. George's Anglican Church, Brunswick St., Halifax, under the direction of Rev. Jim Purchase. A reception will follow immediately in St. George's Hall, behind the church. Burial in Fairview Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. George's Anglican Church.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18