Gone too soon, our dear big brother John (Johnny) Stephen Gillis of Port Hood, passed away at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital on April 28th, 2021 at the age of 56 years. Son of the late, Donald B Gillis, and Marie (Maclean) Gillis, John was born in Waltham Massachusetts. The light of a fun-loving, energetic, social, family-oriented spirit was taken from our lives.
Our Johnny is now in heaven with Mom and Dad. He was a caring brother and brother-in-law of Rodney (Ellen), Lisa (Brian), Danny and Mindy (Jeremy). He was an adored uncle to Brett, Logan, Marli, Jake, Jamie, Bailee, Maria, Maddie and Jack. He was loved dearly by many aunts (aunties as he called them) uncles, cousins, friends, neighbours, and liked by everyone from Port Hood to Las Vegas.
Johnny’s career in telecommunications took him across Canada and parts of the United States where he made many friends along the way. Johnny was employed by MT &T in Cape Breton for many years working alongside his buddies, Ronnie and Neil. He then moved to the United States to help set up the fiber-optic network. Then he moved to Toronto and switched to wireless communications. Eventually, he moved back to Nova Scotia where he worked as project manager with Eastlink overseeing the construction of wireless towers. One of his last jobs was with ATCO Electric, before moving back home to Cape Breton. Johnny had great pride and love for our Hawthorne homestead.
One of Johnny’s first loves was playing hockey. He got to play with his brothers, and great friends. He, like Dad, was a big fan of the Montreal Canadians. Hawthorne would vibrate with their yelps of ‘score!’
His love for another sport soon overcame the importance of hockey in his life. The New England Patriots was Johnny’s pride and joy. He was Tom Brady’s number 1 fan and lived vicariously through his team. We are all Patriot fans because of his unwavering devotion.
His pride and love for his family was like no other. He was truly the ‘fun uncle’ always interacting with his nieces and nephews. He taught a few of them how to drive, and gave lots of hockey advice.
Johnny had Mom and Dad’s enthusiasm for harness racing. He enjoyed watching the Hawthorne horses as well as being the sideline supporter during his brothers’ horse races at various venues across the Maritimes.
On behalf of Johnny, we would like to say a humbling, and heartfelt thank you to the many hardworking and compassionate staff at the Inverness Hospital and Cape Breton Regional Hospital.
Thank you to our Uncle Blair Joseph, for being there for Johnny and for us in Sydney, these last few weeks.
Thanks to all family and friends near and far for all of the efforts, support, messages, and phone calls. The kindness and extra efforts from so many people is humbling and so appreciated.
We take comfort knowing he is with Mom and Dad, cousin Keith, cousin Suzette, aunt and uncles.
Please remember the kind and fun-loving Johnny and know he is struggling no more. Hawthorne Johnny; JG will be sorely missed. We love you John!
As Johnny would say: “Anddd what else?!”
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Johnny can be made to Talbot House or Inverness Palliative Care. Visitation will be held on Monday August 9 from 3-6 p.m. in Port Hood and Area Resting Place. Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday August 10 in St. Peter's Church, Port Hood with Fr. Vincent vanZutphen officiating with burial to follow in the parish cemetery.
On-line condolences may be made to: www.invernessfuneralhome.com
