Our hearts are broken and we cannot describe the depth of pain we are feeling as we share the news of the passing of Alexander Phillips on November 30th, 2020. He was our father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Alex was born the son of Kenneth and Catherine (nee Kennedy) Phillips, of Sydney.
Born, on August 31,1951, he was raised in the Ashby area. He graduated from Sydney Academy and went on to complete his diploma in Electrical Engineering at the Nova Scotia Eastern Institute of Technology. In his early life, he lived in Sydney, later moving to Marion Bridge with his wife Sharon (MacRury), where they lived on a farm that they both loved. An entrepreneur at heart, Alex started multiple small businesses over the years. Most recently, he spent the last several years working in the family business, K. Phillips Fire and Safety, right up until a couple of weeks ago.
He had a fondness for his horses and dogs, loved a good game of tarbish, and always enjoyed a day at the lake. Our family gatherings at the farm became an annual event known as “family day”.
Alex was a very positive person and a spiritual man. He would light up any room and immediately set most people at ease when they were around him. He had a zest for life and did not wish to leave, stating he “still had things to do”. He battled fiercely to the end, against pancreatic cancer.
Alex is survived by his wife Sharon (MacRury), his two daughters Dianne (Gary Geraci) of New Hampshire, and Debbie (Sheldon Campbell) of New Waterford, sisters Priscilla (Jim Calvesbert) of Halifax, Marie (Ken Matraz) of Edmonton, and his twin brother Andy (Carol Miller) of Ottawa, and brother Ken (Jean) of Sydney. He leaves behind his loving grandchildren Caitlyn (Steve), Brendan, Ella, and Olivia, his brother-in-law Jamie MacRury (Minnie) of Sydney, sister-in-law Shawna Barter (Alex), of Deer Lake, his nieces Cathy, Anne, Lara, Bree, Tammy, Dawn, Paige & Tara and his nephews Steven, Rob, Mike, Ross, Sean and David. Also, multiple cousins and family members, many of whom reside in Cape Breton. He is predeceased by his older sister Frances (Don MacKinnon) of Dartmouth, NS, his first wife Anne and his parents, Catherine and Kenneth Phillips, both of Sydney.
A special thank you from the family to Dr. Glen Worth, Dr. Boris Gala-Lopez and his team at the VG in Halifax, Jolene with the VON, the individuals at the Cape Breton Cancer Centre who offered compassion and care, Dr. Campbell and the staff of the CBRH palliative care unit and Ms Yvonne McIsaac who provided comfort and support to both Dad and Sharon -she has been a rock through this all.
A private family funeral service will be held with Celebrant Peter Hammond presiding. Those wishing may attend virtually by joining our livestream on TW Curry’s Facebook page on Friday December 4, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Craig's Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society of Canada.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.twcurry.com
“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure”
