JAMES DEAN

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JAMES DEAN May 9, 1928 May 16, 2008 On Friday, May 16, 2008, James died at the Concordia Hospital at the age of 80 years after a courageous battle with many heart problems. James was born in England the youngest of six, three sisters and two brothers. All of his siblings and their spouses and his mother and father have predeceased him. James had a varied and interesting life starting work at the age of 14 at a brickyard after which he joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 19 and served for almost six years. When he returned home he went back to the brickyard and we met. I thought he was such handsome guy in his Air Force uniform. Two years later we were married on March 12, 1955. After serving in the R. A. F. James had itchy feet and thought he could have a better life in Canada so in June of 1957 he immigrated to Canada to see if he would like this country. Not too many weeks later he sent for me and I arrived in September to a very different country than we were both used to. He started to work at the Winnipeg Transit in 1957 and retired from the same job in February 1988. James had only two jobs during his life, one in England, one in Canada and his service to his country in the Royal Air Force. When Jim started a job he did the very best he could. He didn't like changes and it paid off. Canada was good to us and we retired early. Over our working lives we had traveled to many places and returned to England too many times to remember, but Hawaii was Jim's favourite place to be and for almost 20 years after retirement we spent every winter there until serious heart problems sent us home during the winter of 2007. Jim's traveling days were over and the long hard battle began to stay alive. Over his younger life in Canada, Jim had been involved in many things from coaching soccer to kids in North Kildonan (which was his favourite sport). His face was all smiles when his team in England, Stoke City made it to the premier league. He helped many new immigrants who came to Winnipeg through the Manitoba Branch of C.O.F.F.A. (Canadian Overseas Family Friends Association), whose branch in Winnipeg he helped to found. Many nights we had calls to pick up new arrivals at the C. N. Station, people with children who had just arrived from different parts of the world who had no idea where or what to do. Helping them to find accommodations and jobs was a major endeavour but no matter the time, day or night Jim did his best to help and spent many hours driving to the immigration department with me to try and get people settled in their new life. Sadly this branch of C.O.F.F.A. needed more volunteers and after five or six years the Manitoba Branch was dissolved. His many years of volunteering for the M.S. Society both the Major walk in Winnipeg and the bike ride gave him a lot of enjoyment. Many thousands of hotdogs and hamburgers he had cooked over the years and untold gallons of coffee and hot chocolate. He worked behind the scenes never wanting to be in the limelight but always ready to help. In Hawaii he found many activities to fill his time and was never still. From teaching line dancing at both the Waikiki and Kilueau Community Centres, entertaining at senior's residences, helping to reclaim and plant a garden on the ocean side of Diamond Head Crater and helping to care for the elephants at the Honolulu Zoo. For 18 years it gave him so much pleasure. It was his second home and at his request, this is where some of his ashes will be taken. Over the years Jim liked to dance, play soccer, fish, play pool, darts, build BBQ fires and go camping in his weekends off and when he wasn't doing these things you could always find him in his garden. Since his heart problems stopped him from doing most of these activities, the last few years he got a passion for jigsaw puzzles and became very good keeping his mind occupied so he could handle the other problems. Jim is the last of his immediate family, all other relatives and friends are scattered all over the world. In compliance with Jim's wishes, no formal funeral service will be held and Jim's ashes will be taken to Hawaii and England as he requested to be in his favourite places and with his family. A celebration of Jim's life will be held on Saturday, May 24 from 2:00 p.m. to 4: 00 p.m. at his residence all neighbours and friends are welcome. A perennial plant from your garden to his, you can plant on Saturday afternoon. He would have thought this a great idea. Some of his final words to me were Take care of my flowers . We had been together 55 years plus and I have lost my soul mate, my anchor my best friend I will miss him forever. He promised my Dad in 1953 when he asked to marry me that he would be with me until he was 90 years old. We always joked that he had better have a good excuse for my Dad if he met him sooner. He said he's sorry he couldn't make it but it wasn't his choice and hopes my father understands. Rest easy Jim and you will be remembered by the many people you have helped over the years, and there have been many. You fought a good fight but the body can take just so much pain and you had suffered enough. Many, many thanks to Jim's doctor, Dr. Darcy Johnson who tried so hard to help Jim and me through this difficult time. No doctor could have done more. Thanks to the emergency room personnel at the Concordia Hospital where Jim was on a first name basis with most, after so many visits. All the nurses and aides, who took care of James on 3 West and Palliative Care, thank you all for your support. Thanks to Terry and George Tanner for all their help. A special thanks to Dennis Knysh. I don't know what we would have done without you Dennis, you made so many things easier to handle. Changing your own plans to get us to the doctor's appointment, picking us up at the hospital and keeping us stocked up on groceries all through a very cold winter. Your mother should be very proud of you. Goodbye James my one and only Love. We have had a long and loving time together my only regret is it could not have been longer but these memories both happy and sad will keep me going until we meet again. We promised to stick together in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer till death do us part and you have more than kept your promise. Rest in Peace my love. My heart is broken that we will no longer be together. Your life has touched many people and you did make a big difference in this world. You will be sadly missed by many. Until we are together again, Love your Shug.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 21, 2008