Obituary of Charlie Alfred Neville, Victoria Mines

 It is with great sadness that we, the family announce the peaceful passing of Charles Alfred Neville, age 87 of Victoria Mines on November 13, 2024, surrounded by family.

Charlie was the son of the late James and Marcella (Baldwin) Neville. Born January 22, 1937 and raised on Matilda Street in Whitney Pier, he resided in Victoria Mines during 64 years of marriage to his better half, the late Mary (Ling) Neville.

He first worked the Railway and Whitney Coal Piers before attending the Nova Scotia Institute of Technology, Halifax to become a Barber at age 23. He worked the early years solo, then alongside Frank Seward in the Sydney Shopping Centre and Barbered for more than 35 years before retiring. During those working years he became heavily involved in hockey. He was the General Manager of the New Waterford Jets, co-owner and General Manager of the Sydney Junior Millionaires/Cape Breton Alpines. He could be found every Saturday night at New Waterford Rink and afterwards back at home on the phone discussing the suspensions, penalties and his “interpretation of the rules”. Described in the hockey world as ‘quite the character’ by many.

Sundays were for family dinner and then to Leisure Gardens for the team’s weekly Bingo game fundraiser. Over 30 years of hockey teams, some of the most memorable being his ‘Dream Team’ of the 87’-88’ Millionaires undefeated record of 32-0, and Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame team inductees. Charlie received the New Waterford Sports Heritage Hall of Fame Award, he received the Hockey Nova Scotia Presidents Award for outstanding contributions to Junior hockey as well as Hockey Canada recognition for Outstanding Volunteering. He served as Chairman of the Board of Governors for the NSJRB and won several League Championships and the Don Johnson Atlantic Cup. In later years he was President of the Whitney Pier Historical Society Museum, a Pier boy through and through always giving back to his community.

He can be described as intelligent, compassionate, persistent, enjoyed a good draft beer and was always willing to help others, especially his hockey players. “Let me make a call” was heard many times over the years with great results.

Behind every good man you find a great woman, that being his late wife Mimi, living through years of hockey, the bingo hall and barber shop. They enjoyed many adventures together including major league ball games like Yankee Stadium watching his beloved New York Yankees. A die hard Yankee and Chicago Blackhawks fan reciting player/team stats throughout the leagues, choosing World Series and Cup winners during pre season and would always be up to talk about sports, politics and his family until the end.

Through all of his work and accomplishments was his loving family being known as Father, Da and Papa.
His is survived by his children; Bernie (Stacey) Neville, Kathy (Gerard) Power, and Alanna (Blair) MacDonald; his brothers, Abbie (Sandra), Ellis Neville and sisters, Delores (John) MacCormick and Theresa Neville; grandchildren, Mary (Tyson) Fecho (Alberta), Michael Power (Toronto), Gracie Neville (John Steven)(Halifax) and Kelsie Neville, and great-grandchildren, Ollie and Nora Fecho and a large extended family.

Predeceased by his wife Mary, son in infancy Allan, brothers; Fred, Jimmy, Danny, and sisters; Lena Jessome, Julie Scott, Jean Murphy and many brothers and sisters-in-law.

Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith Street, New Waterford, where visitation will take place on Monday, November 18^th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. A funeral Mass will be held at the Parish of St. Leonard on Tuesday at 10:00 am with Fr. Godwin Obike presiding. Burial will be in St. Alphonse’s Cemetery followed by a reception at the Army/Navy/ Airforce Hall, Smith Street, New Waterford.

The family wishes to send a special thank you to Rose McDonald, the staff at Waterford Heights and New Waterford Hospital 2nd floor for their tremendous care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to New Waterford Minor Hockey. On line condolences to the family can be expressed at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca