Philip Harrison Chadwick

CHADWICK, Philip Harrison – Today I lost my best friend. On Tuesday, December 27, 2011 Philip passed away at home holding hands with his beloved wife Minnie of 63 years at the age of 85. Philip was the son of the late Austin and Bernice Chadwick. Much loved brother of Sidney (Pamela) of Alsager, England. Loving and proud father of David (Sherri) and Deborah. Dad to Cheryl Behnke (Jerry). Grandfather to Michelle (Lorne Palmer), Crystal Dube, Danielle (Orry McLeod), Nicole (Derek Dube), Amanda (Justin Barnes) and Krystal McRae (Jamey Gagne). Great grandfather of eleven. Proud godfather of Ashley Behnke of London, Ontario. Brother in law to many. Special friend to Donald and Cheryl Mireault of Sault Ste. Marie, our “True Angels”. Friends may call at the Barton and Kiteley Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on Friday, December 30, 2011 from 10:30 am until time of memorial service in the chapel at 11 am. Mrs. Helen Smith officiating. Inurnment St. Luke’s Cathedral Columbarium. Donations to ARCH or the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

There's an open gate at the end of the road,

Through which each one must go alone;

And there is a light we cannot see

Our Father claims His own.

Beyond the gate, our loved ones

Find happiness and rest,

And there is comfort in the thought

That a loving God knows best.

Philip Chadwick

Eulogy by Cheryl Mireault

I am honoured to speak about Philip Harrison Chadwick. Philip was born in 1926 to Harry Austin Chadwick and Bernice (Harrison) Chadwick. He lived a long fulfilled life of 85 years.

Phil had a hard start to life as he lost his mother at the age of 41/2. His father remarried but Phil never had the same feeling of family. He was independent at the age of 14 headed off to Farming college just outside of Stafford, England.

Phil lodged with two couples on a farm until he was 21 when he met and married Minnie Harrison who was 17 years 2 months and 12 days. Phil and Minnie were married with the consent of the court on August 1948. Minnie’s dad sent word that he knew Phil was a “good man”. They have been married 63 years.

Phil was an avid farmer and gardener with a true green thumb. He would take poor wilting plants from the stores and magically bring them back to life. He could grow anything from seed and always had a bountiful garden. I remember the corner lot on Blake Street had many vegetables and beautiful flowers. I know he had a special mixture he put in the soil. Phil was very generous with the fruits and veggies from his garden. I remember eating many a tiny tim tomatoe and green beans. His flowers were the envy of the neighbourhood. At St. Joes Island he had planters full of pansies which were his favourite flowers as well as other plants. Minnie shared that she is not a green thumb and Phil always said that she overwatered them. She said Phil commented that Minnie didn’t like her feet to be in cold water and neither did the plants.

Phil and Minnie had two children, David and Deborah, and they all emigrated to Canada in 1966. They started out in Toronto where they had a chance to pick where they wanted to move to. They didn’t have much when they started out just $300 dollars and a great deal of hope and trust in each other. Phil chose Sault Ste. Marie as the place for him and his family to move to. He started out at Algoma Steel and then became a mailman. He loved the outdoors and was a friendly postal worker for 21 years knowing everyone on his route. Phil was retired for 24 years as of Christmas Eve. I can remember how he loved to say he was retired longer than the number of years he worked. Phil was proud to be a mailman. It sure kept him in great shape.

Phil loved his family first and foremost. He always worried that Minnie was doing too much for him. He recently shared with Minnie that she was a “good wife.” I know that Minnie was the love of his life. The 63 years they had together meant they shared a lifetime of memories. Minnie and Phil always held hands as Deborah mentioned to me. She called them Laurel and Hardy. Minnie held his hand right up until the end. Phil would do anything for Minnie including remodeling their house from pillar to post. Phil would tackle anything. He was a quiet man who was always thinking. Phil was an independent man who would take his time and figure out how to solve any challenge from building a garage, installing windows, to building several decks and fences. Minnie didn’t like to be left out so she always said she had a hand in everything they built even if it was handing him a board or nail. They did everything together. Phil was a patient and wise man. He always listened to Minnie’s suggestions and as we all know Minnie has a mind of her own and shared her opinion. Phil being a good husband always listened and usually gave in to her way of thinking.

Phil was very proud of David his son and all of his accomplishments as he would mention that David worked at Algoma Steel and was a loyal employee who worked hard and was a good family man. He always mentioned how smart David was with numbers and computers. David helped his dad venture into the world of computers. Phil always wanted to keep up on new technology and loved to play cards and email. He loved a good joke and could read and share them this way. David is very much a chip off the old block. Phil and Minnie took a computer class even in their 60s. He was never too old to learn. David has 5 daughters and his oldest daughter Michelle just had a newborn bringing the family up to 11 great grandchildren for Minnie and Phil. Phil spoke very kindly of Sherry who is very much a part of the family and has been a great help to Minnie and Phil.

Phil was a doting father to Deborah and she would do anything for him. Phil was a great loving father who always made sure that Deborah knew she was loved. He had a great sense of humour and would tease Deb about her cats. He pretended that he didn’t like cats saying that they were good for the stew pot. We all knew that he loved all of Deborah’s cats. Phil helped to name Deborah’s cats Monty and M and took great interest to ask about them daily. Deborah did everything she could for her dad always thinking of his comfort. She thoughtfully bought him a soft blanket to keep his legs warm just recently. I remember that Phil loved his chocolate and one Christmas Deborah was so excited that she found him a humungous chocolate Santa at Laura Secord. I am not sure how long it took Phil to actually eat that Santa but I think it was ½ a year. Deborah always respected her dad and listened to him. She was a great support to him and Minnie this past couple of years. She told me one of the things she really enjoyed was going shopping early in the morning for groceries with her dad. Phil always found bargains and liked to be the first to get in and out of the stores. He and Minnie were great at making their money go a long way and have instilled this in Deborah. I know that Deb has been her mom’s right hand or should I say left hand this past year.

One of the other things that Deborah shared regarding great memories about her dad was their trips into the States with the truck camper to Florida, and going down to St. Joes Island with their trailer. Phil loved his bonfires. He was always busy and loved to chat with fellow travelers. Phil spent time rug hooking and made some very lovely rugs. Deborah also took up this past time and just this week she finished up a very beautiful rug that her dad teased she would never finish. She did get a chance to show him her accomplishment.

Phil was very proud to be English and really enjoyed his English soccer on television. It provided many hours of entertainment for him this past while. He would cheer for Everton and Minnie would cheer for Stoke City. They had a real rivalry going when they played each other. Phil also loved his British comedies and his documentaries. We loved his British sayings many of which he had to explain to us.

Phil had a true love of animals and especially his pets. The family had 5 Welsh corgies. First there was Cindy, then Stokey, Tanya, Tori and last Tara. While these dogs were family pets everyone knew that they were really Phil’s dogs. I remember Tara curling up on his feet. Tara was his last dog and perhaps his favourite next to Stokey. It was Phil’s wish that Tara be buried with him and his wish is being granted.

Phil will be remembered as a good friend and a wonderful husband and father. We will miss you but you will always be in our hearts and minds.