Obituary of Sheldon Gillis, RN, Halifax/Glace Bay

SHELDON GILLIS,RN

We, the daughters of the late Sheldon Gillis announce with broken hearts the passing of our Dad on December 28th, 2022 at the age of 84. Dad had many health issues over the years but always was able to fight his way through it. Unfortunately, this time it wasn’t meant to be. Dad grew up in Glace Bay and was always proud of his family roots, and what an amazing family the Gillis’ were.

He grew up in homes on Newton and Hillside Avenue filled with music and singing, thanks to the passion that came from his mom and dad, Corn and Rita Gillis. He had one brother Fred and four sisters, Rita, Muriel, Corinne, and Donna, with whom he was very close and over the years always kept in contact with them and did whatever he could to help. He had many nieces and nephews and was close to all of them. He was a second Dad to many of them over the years, especially when we were kids on the Mira and he would always be the one to take the whole gang to play golf, get an ice cream and always build us a wharf we could jump off.

In our childhood, we have many memories of these days as well as being the Dad that always took us to swimming and skating lessons, went to every school concert, taught us to drive, providing us advice about life along the way. Every Friday night, faithfully for years, he took us both, with friends to swim and then to the Ice Cream Factory. In later years, he was so excited to be able to attend his grandson Alex’s hockey games and was beyond proud that his granddaughter Jillian, followed in his footsteps to become an RN. 

Dad was a graduate of the Class of 1960 at St. Joseph’s Nursing School, Glace Bay and was a pioneer in his field in the early 60s, paving the way for generations. He loved the 40 years he spent in nursing, from his days at the Cole Harbour Rehab Centre, as Head Nurse at the adolescent unit at the NS Hospital, Bow Valley oil rigs, the VG, and even in retirement, he went back to work at St. Vincent’s guest house.

He was predeceased by his mom and dad, Rita and Corn Gillis, and his beloved brother Fred and sister Muriel.

He is survived by his loving daughters, Wanda Hogg (Chris), daughter Lisa Rochon (Marc), who fought tirelessly as an advocate for his health, daughter Lisa Tinant (Greg), and step-daughter Colleen MacIntyre (Gary) as well as his wife Linda. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jillian and Alex, Owen and William, Robin, Brett, Todd, and Stacy. Left behind to mourn his loss are his wonderful sisters Rita, Corinne (John), and Donna (Brad), who will miss him terribly. And last but not least the nieces and nephews who he thought of as his own.

We spent every night with Dad in his last two months in the hospital and shared stories, played music, and looked through family photo albums. He was also comforted to reconnect with his first wife Dolores, during his final days. We know he is in a better place without any suffering and hope wherever that is, there is ice cream and mashed potatoes. He was always the life of the party and no doubt will continue to be.

Cremation has taken place. A visitation will be held on Saturday, July 29^th, 2023 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by a reception, all taking place in V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 16 Reserve Street, Glace Bay.

Following the visitation and reception at the funeral home, a celebration of Dad’s life will be held in Mira (249 Malcolms Road, Albert Bridge, NS B1K 2T7) for any family and friends that wish to join us there.  We will share Dad with the place he loved - Out on the Mira. In lieu of flowers or money, do a good deed for someone, be kind, and tell them it’s for Shecky.

On line condolences to the family can be expressed at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca