PURDY – Donald B. 101, of Liverpool, Queens County, passed away peacefully in Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville on Wednesday, May 28, 2014.
Born in Liverpool, he was a son of the late Thomas Purdy and Viola Wamboldt.
Donald began working at age 15 joining his father fishing off Sable Island and the Grand Banks. He later found work assisting in the wiring of the Mersey Paper mill in Brooklyn before once again returning to the sea as captain and guide for tuna fishermen. With a penchant for cars and motors, he soon joined Rossignol Sales, Liverpool, retiring at 66. For the next 10 years, he embarked on his second career as owner/operator of a lawn mower repair business. He will be remembered as a kind, soft-spoken, gentle man with the ability to fix “anything”.
He will be sadly missed by his daughter Donna (Barry) Cox of Toronto; granddaughters Tracey Cox (Steve Helston), Sherri Cox and Dana Cox, his brother Joe of Milton, his half-sisters Modena Reske and Myra Ellsworth and half-brother Leon.
He was predeceased by his wife Myrtle (Ernst), brother Ronald, sisters Rhoda (Zwicker), Mona (MacAuley), Bessie (Zwicker), half-sister Barbara Kempton.
Visitation will be Wednesday, June 4, 2014 from 7 until 9 p.m. in Chandlers’ Funeral Chapel, Liverpool. Funeral service will be Thursday, June 5, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in Trinity Anglican Church, Liverpool. Reverend Shona Boardman officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Liverpool. Family flowers only, donations may be made to Trinity Anglican Church or to a charity of choice. Online condolences may be made to www.chandlersfuneral.com
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David Whynot
the family of the late Donald Purdy i am very to sorry to hear about Don,s passing he was a friendly and kind man i alway ,s see him in Church on Sunday.s Mornings my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family
Craig & Tracey Oickle
Dear Donna, Tracey, Sherri & Dana, Uncle Donny may be gone from sight but never from the Purdy family memories or their hearts. He shall be missed. Take Care.
Cookie Trainor
Donna and family.
So sorry for your loss. I always enjoyed talking to your Dad. He always had stories to tell. He was lucky to be able to stay in his home as long as he did. Just remember the goods times you had with both parents and that will get your through this tiring time.
If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. Love Cookie.
Robert & Lorraine Quinn
Don kept our cars and lawn equipment running smoothly for many years, and we enjoyed our many visits with Myrtle and Don on School Street, where we also lived for many years in the old family home. We ask his family to accept our since condolences for their loss.
Glen, Victoria, Taylor, Jillian, Olivia and Sophia Conrad
Dear Donna and Family, We are so sorry to hear about Uncle Donny’s passing. His smile would always light up a room. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Jim & Kathleen
Dear Donna and family,
Uncle Don has been a huge part of the Purdy family. He was with us at all our family gatherings. We will miss him dearly as will our Dad.We will so miss the wonderful stories the brothers had to share.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.He will not be forgotten.
Walter and Sherri Miller(Wigglesworth)
Donna and Family:
Please accept our sincere condolences on the loss of your Dad.He was certainly a soft spoken gentle man as your Mom was a gracious lady.Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.He certainly lived a full life and enjoyed it so.Remember the great times you had with them both.
Kathleen & Jim Olds
Dear Donna & Family,
Uncle Don was such a huge part of the Purdy family.He was with us at all the family gatherings. We will miss the many stories the brothers shared with us.He will be forever in our hearts.Our prayers go out to you.
Modena, Egon, Jason, and Shauna Reske
Donna, Barry, Tracey, Sherri, & Dana
We will always treasure our visits and remember his stories. We are going to miss him.
Sheila D. Smith
Dear Donna and family: This is a sad time for you and your family and for so many others who knew your father over the years, The light from his smile has been extinguished to the chagrin of us all. I thought of him as family since I spent so much time at your house during our teen years and I treasure those memories. I hope you will find comfort in knowing the esteem in which he was held by so many.
Sheila
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Gary & Donna Jollimore B.C.
He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered as a great and helpful neighbour.
Donald Joudrey
Sorry to hear of Don’s passing i worked at Rossignal’s too and knew Don well a very nice man to work with My condolences to the family,
Jewel and Dave Wilson
Dear Donna and family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this sad time.I am sure he is at peace now and having a great visit with your Mom. They were a wonderful couple.Your Dad will be greatly missed in the community. Dave got along with your Dad so well as Dave is a Mr fix it also. Your Dad would help him find parts for old mowers all the time. They could sure talk a good story.
I know you have many wonderful memories of your Dad and Grandfather that will always be with all of you. Keep them close to your hearts. Love Julie
Kathleen & Jim Olds
Dear Donna & Family,
Uncle Don was a huge part of our family. He was always with us at our many family gatherings.We so enjoyed all the stories he and my Dad shared with us. We will truly miss him. You are in our prayers.
Betty-Jean & Beverley Colp
Donna & Family – We send you our sincere condolences in the loss of a wonderful family man. He always had a smile whenever we saw him. The memories you all share of time spent with him will be such a comfort to you now. God bless.
Marilyn ( Fairn ) Boudreau & Lena Fairn
Dear Donna & Family
Sending condolence in the loss of your Father. We will keep you and your family in our prayers. The great memories you have of him will be a comfort for you in the days ahead. God Bless
Sterling Belliveau
To the family of the late Donald Purdy,
Please accept my most heartfelt sympathies for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Sterling Belliveau, MLA
Ashley n Emma Mckinnon
sorry for the loss of your brother and father, he will surely be miss from all the people that knew the purdy family really…It was pleasure to see him in the sotre one day with his brother joe and smiled…he is now flying high and pain free
Linda Pratt(Irwin)
Dear Donna,
I was sorry to read of your Dad’s passing. Our parents were old friends and they kept in touch over the years. I always enjoyed reading their news. Even after your Mum’s passing,your Dad would send Mum a Christmas card,up until a few years ago.
Several years ago,my husband and I took Mum to visit them. It was evident that they were quite a couple! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
Your Dad had quite a lifespan–hopefully it was a healthy one.
Sincerely,
Linda(&Bert)
“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure”
Dennis & Sherri Harrington
To The Family,
Sending our most sincere condolences. He will be missed.
joyce parks
To Don’s Family, so sorry to hear of Don’s passing, met Don for the first time through Home support, will miss our visits and all Don’s great stories. He was a sweet man, may god be with you all at this sad time.
Teresa Purdy-Soosaar
We have so many fond memories of Uncle Donnie and Daddy Joe laughing and telling stories…and making us all laugh!
Uncle Donnie was an amazing man and will be missed.
Please know we have been thinking of you all in these difficult times and our heart goes out to you Daddy Joe. Xo
Teresa Marti Kirstin Kristofer and Annaliis
Jacqueline Snyder Olsen
To the Family,
Sending condolences in the loss of a truly wonderful and kind gentleman.
Jackie Snyder Olsen and family.
Dear Donna and Family,
Uncle Don was a truly kind and gentle man who will be sadly missed. I was so proud to have him as my Uncle. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Doris Zwicker Snyder
Nancy & Murray Osborne
Donna and family: We shall miss Uncle Don as he was always part of our visits to Liverpool to see the family. His wit and wonderful stories shared with us will keep his spirit alive for all of us. Our sincere condolences to you and your family
Dave & Sheila Manthorne
Donna & Family
Sorry to hear of Don’s passing. He was a wonderful man, a true gentleman. Loved to hear him reminisce about the old days tuna fishing, working on cars at Rossignol, and the funny stories in between. Every time I use my 1972 lawnboy mower which I got used from Don, I have to chuckle. He said ” if you look after it, it will last you a long time”. Forty + years and counting. Our condolences.
Marina Foley
Sorry to hear of Don’s passing, I looked forward to seeing him with home support. He was a great story teller and a very nice man. Don will be missed.
Ellen and John Vaughan
Donna and family ,
We was so sorry to hear of your dad’s passing ,I was so glad I had spent sometime with him on that Tuesday before his passing we will miss him so much always enjoyed my time with him he was just like family to us .God Bless you all.
Ellen and John
Fred and Wendy Wamboldt
Donna and family
So sorry to hear of Don’s passing. Our sincere condolences to you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Fred and Wendy
Margo & Borden Hanley
To the family – very sorry to hear of Don’s passing. He lived a rich and long life. We had the pleasure to work with Don at Rossignol Sales and remember many wonderful days. Our sincere condolences on your loss. God Bless.
Dorothy A Graham
Donna & family – so sorry to learn of your Dad’s death. He lived a long and good life. A wonderful person and always so pleasant. He will be missed by many.
Charlotte Leaman Horwich
We were second cousins. I shall always remember how happy Don was on his 100th birthday confirmed by his wonderful smile.He will be truly missed
My sincere condolences to the family .
Charlotte
Barbara Davidovich
Dear Dana
I was sorry to hear about your grandfather’s passing and send my sincerest condolences to you and your family. When someone we love passes away, no matter how long their life was, it is still never long enough. I am sure, Dana, that your grandfather is now reunited with your grandmother and is sharing his stories with her of all the wonderful visits and special times that the two of you shared together every year. I know your grandfather would have cherished and treasured those visits as much as you did. May he rest in peace. Love Barb
John & Lisa Hamlin
Don was a real gentleman, he is the one that gave me my start in the working world. We spent many days in the basement fixing lawn mowers and chainsaws together. I always looked forward to the afternoon break when Myrtle would fix us a lemonade and Don would tell me fishing stories. My condolences to the family
Nellie Crouse
Sincere condolences to your family at this difficult time.
Nellie Crouse
Kathy Rumbolt
Dear Donna and family,
My sincere condolences to you during this sad time. I remember visiting Mr. Purdy’s house with my father to have lawn mowers fixed etc. I also had opportunity to meet him in recent years while visiting on behalf of the Seniors Community Health Team…he was an inspiration to many.
Kathy Jo Rumbolt
Vernon&Joyce Hawkes
Our sincere condolences to the family.
Philip & RoseMary Decker
Donna & Family
So sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. We were away at the time of his funeral. Your Mom & Dad were real good friends of Philip’s Mom & Dad ( Mary & Alex Decker ). They spend many hours playing cards together.
Mary just mentioned that Don was the only friend she had left . She is 102 years now. Our sincere condolences on your loss.
Our thoughts and prayers our with you and your family at this sad time.
Philip & RoseMary Decker
Bev (Mansfield) Stewart
Donna and family and Joe : So sorry for the sudden loss of Don . I know that you have many beautiful memories to share and keep him alive in your hearts . Donna , your eulogy provided a wonderful picture of his busy life and experiences . It was so special ! Thank you for sharing this . And Joe , how great that you had so many years to enjoy each other’s company ; it was so “cute” to see the two of you shopping together downtown just a few years ago . Don left this earthly home with grace and dignity and with the respect of many friends . Time to put the tool kit away ! Great to be related – First cousin , (once removed) , Bev
Frances Jewel Dickson
I had the privilege and pleasure of interviewing Mr. Donald Purdy in the course of researching my book, Destination White Point. Thanks to his keen mind and detailed descriptions, I was able to gain an appreciation for tuna fishing as it was practised around Liverpool in the earlier 1900’s. I will always have fond memories of the afternoon I spent at Don’s house, listening to his stories and being amazed by his housekeeping skills.
Frances Jewel Dickson
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