Donald Dinny Lewis O'Brien

Donald, affectionately referred to as ‘Dinny’ by his friends and family members, was born to parents, John Lewis O’Brien and Florence (Perks) O’Brien, on June 18, 1929. Donald was their only child, sporting the twinkling blue eyes for which he was renowned, a winsome face and a charming wit that warmed a multitude of hearts.

Educated in Halifax, Donald attended Tower Road School and Queen Elizabeth High School before commencing his career in Toronto with Northern Electric while playing Jr. Hockey. He returned to Halifax to work with the Canadian National Railway for many decades prior to his retirement. Married to the love of his life, Rose (Sims) O’Brien, in Halifax, he raised four beautiful children for whom he gave his all.

An accomplished athlete, Donald was a formidable hockey and football player, a superb golfer, and a graceful ballroom dancer specifically excelling at both the jive and the jitterbug. With an incredible sense of humour, Donald always found enormous joy in the simplest pleasures in life and in the company of family and friends. Donald loved his daily walks with Rose around the Frog Pond Trail at the Dingle, York Redoubt or Point Pleasant Park and they were often spotted at the Lion's Rink skating arm in arm. They were the heads of each other’s fan clubs. Theirs was a love for the ages.

Donald was predeceased by his wife, Rose and is survived by his eldest son, Greg, and, his wife, Dawn (Nicholson-O’Brien) in Ottawa; by his son, Kevin and his wife, Tara (Mountain) in Bedford; by his only daughter, Lisa (O’Brien) Tilley and her husband, Michael (Tilley) in Sambro Head; and by his youngest son, Jeffrey and his wife, Brenda (Landry) in Sackville. Donald’s grandchildren cherished their adored grandfather, including Nicholas, Connor and the only granddaughter, Serena O’Brien (Ottawa); James Tilley (Sambro Head); Jevan and Adam O’Brien (Sackville); and Todd Gerogiannis (Dartmouth).

In December of 2014, Dinny moved to Arborstone where the staff made the last stages of his journey a very caring and memorable one. An abiding debt of gratitude is owed to Arborstone staff.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 15th, at J. A. Snow Funeral Home, located at 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, from 6 pm to 8 pm. There will be a memorial service on Wednesday, December 16th in the chapel of the Snow Funeral Home on Lacewood Drive at 2 pm. Reception to follow. A private family interment will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Until we meet again… our Dear Old Dad, treasured husband, grandfather and friend.