Obituary of Stanley James Poirier, River Ryan

We are heart broken to share the peaceful passing of Stanley James Poirier on June 1, 2021 at the age of 74 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital following a two year battle with heart disease. Stan took his last nap and joined his son Warren for a Budweiser in heaven on June 1, 2021. Stan was a loving husband to Valerie (Petrie) for 54 years, father and grandfather, brother, electrician and mentor, and a good friend. Family meant everything to Stan. Stan was predeceased by his son, Warren and his parents, Stanley and Dinah. Stan is survived by his children, Brennan, Lesley (Rob), Garrett (Shelley) and Andree (Kevin); special nephew, Adrian and grandchildren, Kayla(Bryden), Sophie, Ben, Sam, Sebastian, Max, Holly and Kate and many special children in his life including Maggie, Cruz, Aiden, Brooklynn and Cameron. Also God children, Shauna Devison, Kelly Gillis Davies, and Debbie Quigley Coady. Stanley was a Bay Boy from Number 11 and a coal miners son. Born in Glace Bay on October 4, 1946, he was the oldest son, and loved his sisters, Donna (Wilfred), Debbie (Rod) and Doreen (Alan) and was devoted to his only brother, Pat. He loved Valerie’s family and was a father figure to many. Stan is survived by many nephews and nieces. His childhood brotherhood Bobby, Jerome, Blair, Gordie, John Art and Allan were near and dear to his heart. Stan was an alter boy at Saint Anthony’s Church and played short stop in baseball, was an army cadet, and played floor hockey. He grew up proud in a company house with his four siblings, delivered pop for McKinley’s. He attended school dances where he met the love of his life, a New Waterford girl named Valerie. They dated for four years and were married by Father Bobby Day at the tender age of 21 and had five children. After the children had grown and left home they continued to return for Val’s homemade Sunday dinners and a beverage with their dad. Stan was devoted to his family; we did everything together. He sung to us daily, he had a good life and was happy when we were all together. Summers were spent at the Bungalow in Loch Lomond or in the backyard with friends and family around the pool. We attended church on Sundays, had family supper every night, and skied together. Each spring we grew gardens together, went fishing when the salmon ran, and enjoyed falling to sleep as kids watching the Montreal Canadians and Blue Jays with him, and took countless road trips to Halifax. Stan valued education. He left Cape Breton briefly as a young man to pursue a trade and education at the Nova Scotia Institute of Technology. He aced the admissions test, earned his trade and opened the door to a successful working life. He valued lifelong learning taking courses for his trade at every opportunity. Stan worked hard to provide for his family, working in the early days in refrigeration, and then with Lynk Electric then in Port Hawkesbury. He began his electrical career driving back and forth from Port Hawkesbury to New Waterford daily while building his first home when Brennan was born; setting the stage for Stan’s Electrical for 45 years. Many of Cape Breton’s electricians got their first start under his expert guidance. Stan wired Centre 200, including their first time clock, the fish plant in Canso, the Glace Bay High School and many other commercial buildings. He provided electrical service to Cape Breton Regional Housing Authority for most of his career. He ran a 24-hour business – providing emergency service to customers. The phone would always ring in the middle of the coldest nights or on Christmas Day – and Stan would head out to ensure the families had a warm house or a hot dinner. Stan “retired” from Stan’s Electrical in 2013 becoming chief strategist to Garrett as he took on the family business. Stan's favourite times were daily work meetings over bacon and eggs with Garrett. Joining the work crew and Clem for some work conversation and social time over a beer in the garage was a highlight of his later years. Some of Stan’s best days were when “the pool was blue” and he would come home after a long day to see every child in the neighbourhood swimming in the pool. It was a gathering spot for us where countless children learned to swim and perfect the cannon ball. Stan and Valerie hosted countless neighbourhood Canada Day parades and fireworks and welcomed all with open arms. He loved having the pool full with his grandchildren, flying remote helicopters, hearing about their baseball games and how they were doing in school. Friends bring more happiness in our lives than anything else; Stan’s neighbourhood pals Keith, Paul, Bradley and Donnie kept his driveway ploughed, his lawn trimmed, and the conversation flowing. Stan loved everything that Val cooked and baked from scratch - meat or butterscotch pies, date squares, cinnamon rolls, biscuits. To the occasional meal out – a buffet breakfast, spare ribs and a good T-bone. He was happiest in the backyard in his garage or on his four-wheeler clearing snow. Stan could often be seen on his ride on lawn mower with a grand child perched on his lap trimming the lawn and chopping down the dandelions. Stan was dedicated to his community and church. He and Val worked tirelessly with Worldwide Marriage Encounter for over 20 years, meeting friends from all over the Maritimes and across Canada. Since 1990, under the direction of Father Tony, they taught pre-marriage courses to hundreds of newlyweds. A lifelong highlight was working boys Challenge Weekends with his two youngest sons – Warren and Garrett. Easy Come, Easy Go! He was a member of the Knights of Columbus with his brother, Pat. Stan was involved with the men’s club and youth groups at St. Michaels Parish. Valerie and Stan were dedicated to family and religious life – they participated in the first family life course with the NS Family Services Association. Stan was an active community member supporting his kids and many others. He volunteered with youth coaching baseball, floor hockey, and a scout leader and he never missed a dance recital or a basketball game. He drove us everywhere and taught us to drive. He was an avid reader and follower of politics. He wrote book reports with us, made science projects with us and taught us all math problems. Stan was a friend to all, and his friends were his second family. He loved a good game of Tarabish and a glass of red wine. Stan and Valerie were members of a lifelong ‘supper group’ of friends who he loved and cherished. Dad and Mom were out dancing almost every week with their friends; he loved music. In his retirement, he loved the cruises that he and Val took, seeing the world together but coming home to Cape Breton was always the best part. Special friends and life savers in more than one way, Jerry and Trudy Forbes supported Stan and Val until the end. Stan was forever changed by the death of his son and electrical apprentice, Warren, in 2001. The community rallied around him and Mom, he remained forever grateful for that. Dad and Warren are now reunited. The stars will forever be brighter with these two electricians together in the sky. Due to Covid-19, a private Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, June 11 at 11 a.m. for immediate family in the Parish Church of St. Leonard with Father Bedford Doucette officiating. The mass will be live streamed – please join us to say good bye using the following link: https://www.facebook.com/valerie.poirier.549 A private burial immediately to follow; Stan will be laid to rest with son, Warren. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, New Waterford. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca. A memorial mass and celebration of life will take place at a later date when it is safe to gather – all will be welcome! In lieu of flowers, raise your glass today and hug your family and friends – life is precious. If you wish, our suggested donations in Stan’s memory to a Food Bank, Heart and Stroke Foundation, or Worldwide Marriage Encounter District 1. I sit alone most every night Watch those trains pull out of sight Don’t I wish they were carrying me Back to Abilene, my Abeliene Love is patient, love is kind.