Rev. John Piercey MacLEAN

July 26th 1926 - April 18th 2016

Our father, grandfather, and great grandfather slipped away after being in hospital for two months in Nanaimo BC. He was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia to Florence Gertrude (Smith) and John Neil MacLean, the eldest of three children. He joined the Canadian Army shortly before the war ended. John attended Mount Allison University where he met our mother, Ruth Allan Kennedy. He has always told us that it was love at first sight! Ruth and Piercey were married on April 23rd, 1950.

After graduating with a BA, he attended Divinity College at Pine Hill, King’s College in Halifax and graduated with a Masters of Divinity. He became an ordained minister with the United Church of Canada. After four years serving as a minister in Antigonish, NS, where their three daughters, Mary, Beverly and Leah were born, Piercey decided to sign up with RCAF and subsequently became a chaplain.

There were many moves to a variety of postings including Centralia, ON, Langar, UK, where their fourth daughter, Joan, was born. More moves included Lac St Denis, QC, Portage la Prairie, MB, Rockcliffe, ON, Baden, West Germany, Winnipeg, MB. Piercey and Ruth’s final posting was to Ottawa, where Piercey was the Chaplain at the National Defence Medical Centre,

He retired from the military in 1980 after a long and distinguished career. He then moved to London, Ontario and became the associate minister at First St. Andrews United until 1990.

Piercey and Ruth then relocated to Victoria, BC where he worked part time but maintained his licence so he could marry and bury family and friends if asked. After Ruth died in 2008, Piercey moved to Parksville where he enjoyed a quiet life.

Piercey was predeceased by his sister, Joan (age 6); daughter, Leah; and Margaret Cann.  He is survived by his three daughters, Mary (Rod) Spruston, Beverly (Jim) Miller, and Joan Maclean (Terry McTavish); his grandchildren, Camille (Ian) Herbison, Michael Bishop, Christopher (Amanda) Cann, Jeremy (Ashley) Spruston; Brent (Karalee Reade) Spruston, Emily Rose McTavish, and Garret McTavish.  He leaves behind his great grandchildren, Kyle and Noah Spruston, Hannah and Sam Herbison, Oliver and Gally Cann.  He is survived by his sister, Claire Wharton and her family in Hunt’s Point NS.  Piercey also leaves an extended family, Ed and Carol Cann, Jolyon and Andrea Cann and Spencer and Andrea Cann.

Our Dad was a kind and caring man to all; he and our Mum worked hard in service to others. We were taught to look out for others and help when we could. Dad loved all of us very much. He had a special soft spot for his great grandchildren. As Michael put it, “Grandpa, you are responsible for all of this.”

Thank you for being our Dad introducing us to the world and looking after us so well.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff on the 4th floor of the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for their kind and compassionate care during Dad’s final days.