MacISAAC, Francis Jerome Gillis "Roxy" – of Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 4, 2013, at the age of 78. He was born in Point Tupper, Nova Scotia on December 30, 1934, to the late Roderick Gillis and Mary Ann (MacIsaac) Kiley. Predeceased by his wife Ethel (MacKinnon) (1977) and his wife Shirley (Malcolm) (2008), brother, Francis "Moe" Kiley. Loving father of Lennan (Iris), Baddeck, Nova Scotia; Darlene Cogswell (Joel), Windsor, ON; Brian (Suzanne), St. Catharines, ON; Don (Sandy), Oshawa, ON; and Tom (Darla), Halifax, Nova Scotia. Proud grandfather of Allison, Connor, Liam, Tanner, Chris and D.J.; sisters, Muriel Oliver (Mike) and Georgina Tracy (Warren), both of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia; brother, Fred Kiley, Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia.
Roxy was a Cold War veteran and a decorated United Nations Peacekeeper, serving for 24 years in his beloved regiment, the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s). Roxy loved sports and dedicated many years to coaching, playing and promoting hockey and fastball in his community. He was a lifetime member and past Sgt of Arms for the Port Hawkesbury branch of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43. Past president of the Port Hawkesbury Dart League, President and founding member of the 8CH Centurion Club for 13 years. He was awarded Legionnaire of the year and top recruiter for the Nova Scotian Nunavut Command. While serving in the military, he coached and played on numerous sporting teams, but his love was fastball and was known through the Ottawa Valley as one of the fiercest competitors of his time, with a regular batting average of 400. He developed the first Junior Boys fast pitch team in the Pembroke area in 1980. He loved the Habs! He coached and was president of the Strait Pirates Old timers in the 80’s. He enjoyed a good game of cards with his oldest friends. Dad had many friends and loved his ceilidh’s and dance to a square set all night. He had a strong love for his traditional grassroots, the Scottish fiddle. Father, friend and solider - he will be sadly missed by all!
Special thanks to the staff at the QEII 5th Floor, St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish and Strait Richmond Hospital for their care and attention given to Dad over the last few months.
Visitation in Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury, on Wednesday, January 9, 2013, from 2-4 and 7-9p.m. (Vigil service at 2p.m. and Legion service at 7p.m.). Funeral mass will be 10a.m. Thursday, January 10, at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Port Hawkesbury, with Father Andrew Boyd officiating. Burial will be in St. Francis de Sales Parish Cemetery, Lower River Inhabitants. A reception will follow at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43, Port Hawkesbury. Memorial donations may be made to the Port Hawkesbury Veteran’s Memorial Park Society. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at www.haverstocks.com
"REGI PATRIAEQUE FIDELIS"
