Frederick Gordon Bigham

Fred was the beloved husband of Laraine, devoted father of Anne, Melissa (Ryan), and Emily (Andrew), and proud Grandpa to Luke, Abby, Phoebe, Nate, Brianna, and Gwen. He was the cherished son of †Gordon and †Hazel Bigham, brother of Beryle (†John), Gerald (Anne), and †Howard (Margaret), and will be lovingly remembered as Uncle Fred and as a dear friend to so many folk.

Born in 1942, Fred grew up in Woodstock, Ontario where he could be found as the goalie for street hockey, helping his dad at Bigham the Mover and serving at his church - Oxford Baptist. He attended Woodstock Collegiate Institute and then was the first in his family to attend university, studying Economics at Western.

Fred met Laraine in Kingston while attending Queen’s for his postgraduate studies. They married in 1971 and spent most of their married life in Ottawa, being active members first at All Saint's Anglican and then finding a home at Bromley Road Baptist. He dedicated his career to public service through the CRTC and later served internationally with Laraine by his side as a consultant in countries including Turkey, India, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Turks and Caicos. In 2020, they moved to Peterborough to be closer to their grandchildren.

Fred possessed a gift for making every person he met feel that they mattered. Whether standing in line at the grocery store, sharing coffee with a friend, or chatting with someone he had only just met, Fred listened with genuine interest, and asked thoughtful questions because he truly cared about people's stories . He loved generously, listened patiently, served quietly and treated every person with dignity.

Fred loved chatting, butter tarts, apples, a feast of corn, cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs and watching baseball. He was always up for a game of crokinole even in his later years. Fred treasured time with the people he loved at the family cottages in Turkey point, Sunridge, and later Tatlock. His familiar sayings—"Make your trips pay," "no fuss" “Take it easy” and "It's good to hear your voice"—will remain treasured memories.

Above all, Fred was a man of steadfast Christian faith. He loved Jesus and sought to serve Him faithfully through a life of humility, kindness, and service to others. His enduring legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren, who continue to reflect the faith and values he so faithfully lived.

We will miss his warm smile, groan worthy puns, sparkling blue eyes, offers of help, and his gentle, steady presence. We rejoice in the assurance that this is not the end of his story; it is only the beginning.

Livestream Link: https://funeraweb.tv/diffusions/126875