
Purdy – Joseph Henry, 99, of Milton, Queens Co., passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday October 25th, 2016.
He was born in Liverpool, N.S. on February 15th, 1917, a son of the late Thomas and Viola (Wambolt) Purdy.
Joe was a captain of a tuna fishing vessel and took tourists tuna fishing before joining the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. During the war, Joe served as a gunner onboard the HMCS Oakville which did escort duty between North America and Europe, and saw action during the Battle of the Atlantic. After the war, he worked at Rossignol Steel & Engine Co. in Liverpool before joining the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, where he was a machinist on various survey ships, surveying the Canadian coasts and the N.W.T.. Near the end of his career, he transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and worked on fisheries boats in Nova Scotia until he retired in December of 1980. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and spending time with his wife of fifty-five years, Mary. He was a loving father, grandfather and friend “Daddy Joe” to all who loved him.
He is survived by his daughters Kathleen (Jim) Olds of Dartmouth; Coleen (Brian) Roy of Greenwood; his sons John “Jack” (Frances) Purdy of Lawrencetown; Brian (Beverly) Purdy of Milton; grandchildren Jacquelyn Mann, Victoria Conrad, Teresa Soosar, Michelle Purdy, Tracey Oickle, Jeff Purdy and Brian Roy., twenty one great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren. Half-sisters Modena Reske of Bridgewater, Myra Purdy of New Glasgow, half-brother Leon Purdy of British Columbia. Several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife Mary (Taylor), sisters Rhoda Purdy, Bessie Zwicker, Mona McAulay, half sister Barbara Kempton and brother Donald Purdy.
Visitation will be Thursday evening, October 27, 2016 in Chandlers’ Funeral Chapel, Liverpool with a legion memorial service being held at 7:00 p.m.. Funeral service will be Friday, October 28, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church Liverpool. Father Charles Offor officiating. Reception to follow. Interment will be in St. Gregory’s Catholic Cemetery, College Street, Liverpool. Family flowers only, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, Kidney Foundation of Nova Scotia or St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, Liverpool. Online condolences may be made to www.chandlersfuneral.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Purdy; Joseph Henry

Peggy Payzant. ( Nee Freeman )
Dear Colleen & Families,
So Sorry To Hear Of Your Father’s Passing. I Remember Going To Your Place Numerous Times After School And Your Mom & Dad Were So Good To Me. Your Dad Has Lived A Generous Life And What A Wonderful Man He Was. When I Worked At Sobeys He Use To Come To My Register And We Use To Chat Together. God Has Gained A Terrific Angel And Now He Can Rest In Peace!!! Always Remember Those Wonderful Days With Your Dad And Keep Them Close To Your Heart, They Will Help Ease The Pain. May God Be With You & Your Family.
Sincerely,
A School Friend,
Peggy Freeman Payzant!!!
Allan & Beth LaRocque
To Brian and family,we are deeply saddened by the news of Mr.Purdy’s passing.Our thoughts and prayers are with you and family
Valerie and Donald Inness
Dear Purdy Family:
I have heard many good stories from Jeff and Sam about their wonderful grandfather and great grandfather. How kind he was and how good he was to them. He was so lucky to spend his last years at home with the help of his family. He will be sadly missed .No more worries for him and no more worrying for you. Hold on to each other in this very difficult time.
Marina and Ted Bulley
We are so sorry for the loss of your dad, Brian. Our thoughts, heart and prayers are with you and your family right now. Take care.
Junie and Peggy Dalby
To the family …So sorry to hear of Joe”s passing..spent many happy hours working along side Joe…God Bless!!!
Phyllis Leaman
Condolences to the family. I know my late husband could claim relationship with Joe and often spoke of him.
Murray and Nancy Osborne
Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. Many of our fondest memories were visits with Joe in Milton. His outlook on life and his sense of humor will remain with us for ever.
Jeannie Uhlman
Brian and Family,
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Hugs
Karen McLeod
Sorry to read that your Dad has passed. I was very fond of him and your Mother. I used to see them often in town years ago and they always had time for a chat
Ashley Mckinnon
Sorry for the loss of a great man and a friend/neighbor, I enjoyed having him as my neighbor 29 yrs and seeing him outside sure going to miss him a lot, thinking of you all at this sadden time, rip my friend your are flying high with your wings
Terry Feoner
Brian and Family,
My deepest sympathy on the passing of your father.
Godfrey
Sorry for your loss thinking of you
Steven Jackie and Colten Godfrey
Glen Conrad
Joe was the Grandfather I never had. I met him shortly after dating his Granddaughter (Victoria) in 1985 (of Whom I married and still Love). Since then he has been an inspiration and mentor to me. If only I could ever be as great a man as he. I am proud to be part of his family. He is by far the most inspirational, caring, and welcoming man I have ever met. I will always hold dear my memories of him and aspire to be as good (or as close as) he was. He told me stories of the war, stories of old times, stories of being a sailor, and even gave me good advice on women. He surely was a man of which I can not hold to no measure. I will miss you Joe, as I missed your wonderful wife Mary. RIP.
John & Peggy Whynot
To the Family|
We are so sorry for your loss. We are thinking of all of you with heartfelt sympathy at this very sad and difficult time.
Betty Everett
Colleen ,Brian and families So sorry to hear about your Dad .He was a wonderful person . My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time take care .
Angela Roy
Dear Colleen, we are sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. He was a kind and sweet man of whom everyone loved. Even though he had a good and full life this sad day will still be difficult. Peggy said it all so eloquently. Even though we will not be there and are away we will be thinking of you at this sad time.
Much love and prayers
Angela and Jeff.
Myra Purdy & Don Ellsworth
We are sorry to hear about the loss of your father. Please accept our sincerest sympathies at this difficult time.
Sandra Turpin
Brian and Family:
My most sincere sympathy on the passing of your Dad. My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very difficult time. God Bless.
Annette Hartlen
So sorry to hear of Joes passing. I had the opportunity to meet this extraordinary gentleman on a couple of occasions and was so impressed with his outlook wisdom and knowledge of living life to the fullest. A truly remarkable person . My thoughts are with the family during this sad time
Sterling Belliveau
To the family of Joseph Purdy, I wish to extend my sincere condolences on the loss of your loved one. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers during this sad time.
With sincerest sympathy
Sterling Belliveau, MLA
Jodie selig-barkhouse
Brian bev and the rest of the family .. my heart is very saddened.. i really enjoyed spendin each day i had with joe.. a kind hearted and great sense of humor.man once of the best men i have ever met i will sure miss waking him up in the mornin and looking at that smile.. him saying it morning already.. we would joke alot about that and alot of other stuff including talking about my horses and enjoyed his long stories.. we had a great time together and i felt the family all treated me like their own .. i will miss all our times joe … miss you alreasy
oicklesandra and mervyn
Brian, Bev.Tracey and Jeff, Joe leaves behind so many loving memories with all who knew him. He was a true gentleman and one who taught his family what family is all about. He touched a lot of lives and will be greatly missed.We always referred to him as Traceys Dad Joe but he was Dad Joe to many.Our prayers are with you all.
Doris,Lindsey & Josh Francis
Brian,Bev & all the families….So sorry for your loss.Joe had a great sense of humor and was really a great person.Many memories were made during his lifetime…hold them close to you hearts,knowing they will be with you forever
Christopher and Peggy
Be and Brian, we were so sorry to hear of Joe’s death. He was one of the best. I’m sure you will take some solace from the knowledge that you had cared so well for him in his latter years. Please accept our sympathy
Becky Williams
Brian, Katherine, Coleen, I would like to express my deepest condolences to you and your families. I am saddened to hear about Joe, he was a wonderful man that I will remember with great fondness. I remember our long chats out by the fish pond, him answering all the questions a young girl felt free to ask a neighbor that she thought was just a real nice man. Joe @ Mary were my neighbors, and I have a great respect for both of them. you will be missed Joe.
judy boutilier
Dear Brian and Bev and famiy,
Sorry for your loss , its always hard no matter what age to say good-bye to a parent. Because he had a long fullfilled life you will have many great memmories. My thoughts are with you and your family.
John and sandy Soosaar
Always enjoyed our Christmas visits with him at Marti and Teresa’s home. A great gentleman with whom I always had a nice chat about days gone by.
Marg & Les
Our sincerest sympathy Jim & Kay & families. Our thoughts & prayers are with you!! He sure was a fantastic man!!
Hugs, Marg & Les xo
Sherry MacPherson
Brian and family,
I am sorry to hear of your loss. I met your dad through my uncle, Blake Morash, who served in the navy with your dad. He was such a kind and caring person. I always looked forward to receiving his Christmas card each year. I hope the many memories you have bring you comfort.
Sherry Mac Pherson
Louise Keeley
To Tracey, your mom and dad and all your family who took such wonderful care of this remarkable man. You certainly fulfilled his wish to stay at home. I am sure at times it wasn’t easy but by pulling together you made it happen. Our sympathy to you and all your family. Did not know Kay was related to you. They were neighbours of ours from the subdivision when we first moved to Bridgewater. Great fun we had. Say hi to her for us. Take care of each other during this difficult time.
Diane Burns
So sorry for your loss Kay and family. I know how much He meant to you. Please accept my love and sympathy at this time. Love Diane Burns
Modena & Egon Reske
Our condolences to all the family. Joe was such a kind and positive person. We had such wonderful visits. It was so nice that, with your help and support he was able to stay at home.
David and Delores Dagley
Brian, Beverly, and family:
We are sorry to hear of Joseph`s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Jim, Carolynn & Christal Mulock
Our heartfelt sympathy and prayers to Brian & Bev & family
Susan MacLeod
Brian and Family: We are so sorry for your loss. Our sincere condolences.
Susan and Butch
Bob fralic
Dear Brian sorry to hear of Joe’s passing, he certainly did a lot with his life, may God bless.
Kim Ward
My thoughts are with your family at this time. I have many wonderful memories of Daddy Joe and Nanny Purdy from growing up on the same street with Tracey and Jeff. He will be missed but the joy he brought in to so many lives will always remain.
Linwood & Julie
Jack and family
Our sincere condolences on the passing of your dad. Our thoughts are with your at this difficult time.
Kara Colbourne
My thoughts are with you at this time. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Donna Hurlburt
Brian, Bev, Tracey & Jeff – So sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts are with you. Love Donna & Boys
Gerald and Marie Ward
Sincere condolences to all the Purdy Family .You are in our thoughts and prayers, May your memories of your beloved comfort and sustain you through your grief. Joe holds a special place in our hearts as a wonderful friend and neighbour whose kind and generous nature ,great sense of humour and welcoming smile brightened our days on many occasions.
Gerald, Marie, and Family
John and Nancy Leefe
Brian and Family, we were sorry to learn of your father’s passing. We always enjoyed his company at community suppers, especially when he and Don travelled together. It is wonderful they were privileged to share their fraternal bond into ripe old age.
Jack Fancy
Brian and family,
Sorry to hear of the loss of your father, will be praying for your family.
Sherri Cox
We will miss you Uncle Joe. Always making us laugh. We loved your hodgepodge, and wonderful stories you would tell us. Forever in our hearts.
Love,
Sherri and Octavio
(daughter and son-in-law of Donna (Purdy) Cox)
Dennis Harrington
Sending sincere condolences to the Family.
Dennis & Sherri Harrington
Tracey and Steve (Don's Granddaughter)
Dear Brian and Family,
We are deeply saddened by the loss of your dad. Please know how much your dad meant to us. We loved our summer visits to his home, walking the property in earlier years, and just being together to talk and share stories. His good humour and interest in the goings-on of our family was always reflected in his kind heart and gentle soul. He will be missed and remembered always by Steve and I and my mom, dad and sisters. We know we will feel his presence the next time we walk along the banks of the Mersey in beautiful Milton.
Sending love to you all.
Barry,Bonnie,Lisa and Kate Francis
Dear Brian, Bev and all the family, so sorry to here of the passing of Joe. Please know that all that knew him loved his personality and wisdom. Our prayers are going out to you all in your time of sorrow.
Gail Feeney
Brian, Colleen, Kathleen and Jack i was so shocked by the pasing of “Daddy Joe”, i thought he would live forever. He will be truly missed, it is never easy to loose a parent. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
Jackie Kidd (Benonisen)
Brian and Beverly,
I am so very sad to learn of Uncle Joe’s passing. I hadn’t seen him since Aunt Gladys’ funeral and was so happy to reconnect. So many times I had planned to visit but never made it that far down the shore. I wanted very much to discuss his and my early family history as he was married to my mother Kathleen’s favourite sister Mary. Please accept my heartfelt condolences at this very difficult time and express my sympathies to all family members.
Jackie
Vernon & Joyce Hawkes
A Great Man, thinking of you all.
Jeannette Lewis
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of your Dad and grandfather.God bless you all.
Jason, Vivien, Ava and Sarah Reske
Uncle Joe was such a kind and generous man. We always delighted to spend time visiting and will miss him greatly.
He will always be in our memories.
Our deepest condolences.
Jeanine Doucet
He was a total 100% gentleman, which is very hard to find today. He may not have reached his 100th year, but the life he lived he lived it well. He believed in the basic values and this he kept to the end with his sense of humor as well. Every time I empty a catheter bag now I will think of him saying, “your going to play with my bag now”. God bless Joe, I believe you’ve earned your crown because you were not a complainer being the gentleman you were raised to be.