Obituary of John Xavier Hickey, Glace Bay

John Xavier Hickey, age 75, a former resident of Official Row, Glace Bay, passed away on Thursday, January 16^th, 2025 in the Glace Bay Hospital.

Born in Glace Bay, he was the son of the late James & Grace (Coleman) Hickey.

John was the youngest boy in our family of five (three boys & two girls). At the age of nine, John survived a horrific fire which caught his pajama top on fire from a, “Warm Morning” heater. He spent months in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Glace Bay. John graduated from St. Michael’s High School in 1970. He loved fishing with dad and his brothers as well as a lot of cousins who we were so close to. He enjoyed his bungalow in Loch Lomond and Victoria Bridge. From an early age, he helped our mother, Grace, often earning a bit of money picking blueberries, catching trout and smelts for supper. John went out west for work but came back home and was able to get hired at the Sydney Steel Plant and worked there until it closed.

He did deliveries, odd jobs and helped with the selling of Christmas trees and Watkins products. John cared for our brother, David for many years who became disabled. He was a faithful member of St. Anne’s Church his whole life and was blessed with the Holy Sacrament of the Sick by Fr. Norman MacPhee. Special thanks to John’s dearest friend, Charlotte MacRury, who were frequent flyers at Collette’s Restaurant, especially on Thursday’s. John loved animals and always had treats for the neighborhood cats.

John had a lot of health issues the last few years, but dealt with them bravely. He recently sold the family home which the Hickey family had since the early 1900’s, a board on the roof was from 1887.

He had many good friends at the steel plant and through his life, special mention to his neighbor, Allen MacLean and his brother and parents next door who did so much for him. Tremendous thanks to the nursing staff of 3 West and 3 South where John spent six months, they were so very kind and understanding, also thank you to Dr. Kate MacInnis, a dedicated caring specialist and our friend. Lastly to the doctors and all the support staff from housekeeping to the kitchen and lab, you were great.

Besides his parents, John was predeceased by his grandfather, Frank Coleman, brothers, Carter and David, and his sister, Louise (George) Grosvenor.

He is survived by his sister, Phyllis (Wilfred) MacEachern, nephews, Ryan (Tessa Johnston) and their children, Dylan and Chloe, godson and nephew, Brennan (Jolene), and their children, Cody and Nicholas, nieces, Michelle (William) Thompson, Krista Grosvenor (Nik), as well as nephew, Richard Grosvenor (Tara), great nephews, Garrett, Coleman, Ryan and their children and many cousins.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, Glace Bay. There will be no visitation. The funeral mass will be celebrated on January 25th (Saturday) at 10 am in St. Anne’s Church, Glace Bay followed by interment in the parish cemetery. Fr. Norman MacPhee presiding.

Memorial donations in memory of John may be made to the Glace Bay Foodbank. To place a condolence for the family please visit: www.vjmcgillivray.ca