Obituary of Philip Peter Donovan

It is with sadness that we, the family, announce the peaceful passing of a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, Philip Peter Donovan, 79, of New Victoria, on June 28, 2016 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney. Phil was born July 9, 1936 in London, England. He was a proud and respected member of Ironworkers Local UA 752. Early in his life he worked in the lumber camps of Quebec and Ontario and then the vessels on the Great Lakes. Eventually he went to work on the Coast Guard Ships in the North. Following this, Phil started his long career as an ironworker where he made many lifelong friends with his union brothers. In more recent years, he was a dedicated caretaker of St. Joseph Cemetery in New Victoria. Phil loved gardening and was known to feed everyone around with his fresh vegetables. His greatest passion, however, was spending time with his children and grandchildren. Surviving are his daughters Bernadette (Ralph) Lovell and Maureen (Jeff); sister Cathy (Alan) Thorp; grandchildren Andrew, Lauren and Connor; niece and nephew Madeline and Dean and their families; sisters-in-law Patricia Buchanan and Shirley Brown; son-in-law Lawrence MacSween. Besides his parents, Phil was predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth Ann 'Betty' Donovan and son, Sean. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held Monday, July 4 from 4-6 p.m. at V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith Street, New Waterford. A funeral mass of celebration will take place Tuesday, July 5 at 10 a.m. in the Parish Church of St. Leonard, Mount Carmel Avenue, with Father Ray Huntley officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, New Victoria, with a luncheon to follow at St. Leonard's Parish Hall on Convent Street. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Parish Church of St. Leonard Cemetery Fund. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca.