Sylvester Alexander Dunphy

Ingonish Beach

It is with great sadness that we, the family of Sylvester Dunphy, aged 86, announce his passing on Dec. 3, 2011, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, surrounded by three generations of his family.

Sylvester was born May 22, 1925. He spent many years on the ocean delivering fuel and supplies to lighthouses around the province, as a crewman on various tugboats, and as co-captain of the schooner Lillian Clark with his brother Percy. He also spent time as a lobster fisherman when the price of a licence was 25 cents.

During the Second World War, he served overseas, achieving the rank of Sergeant. In 1954, he began working for Parks Canada, retiring in 1981 after 27 years of service. His retirement years were filled with long walks, wood carving, playing cards, and time spent with family.

Sylvester is survived by his loving wife, Agnes (Barron) to whom he was married for 62 wonderful years; by his children, Valerie (Ian) Inglis, Ontario, Greg (Joanne), British Columbia, Mike (Dianne), Ingonish, Cathy (Mark), Alberta, Mary (Ricky) Fraser, Dingwall; his 13 grandchildren (his pride and joy) Candace, Jamie, Malcolm, Michael, Stephen, Angela, Sara, Hailey, Stephanie, Jonathan, Clayton, Jillian, Hannah; and one very special great-grandson, Landon. He is also survived by his sister, Nora Young, Ingonish Beach; stepsister, Barbara (Bobby) Reinhart, Ontario; and his brothers, Percy, Florence, Angus, Ontario, Bart (Lenora), Ingonish Beach.

Sylvester was predeceased by his father, William, mother, Christine (Hines), stepmother, Dorothy (Daisley), brothers, Chester and Cecil, sister, Edna Cooke, sisters-in-law, Sadie (Donovan) Dunphy, Amelia (Robinson) Dunphy, Sandy (MacVicar) Dunphy, brothers-in-law, Charlie Cooke and Jim Young.

There will be no visitation. A funeral mass will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6 at St. Peter’s Parish, Ingonish, Fr. Dan MacDonald will officiate. Interment will take place at a later date.

Donations in Sylvester’s memory may be made to the Buchanan Memorial Hospital.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.fillmoreandwhitman.com.

Dad was a kind, gentle soul who always put his family first; he has set sail for his final resting place into the arms of Our Lord.