I haven't seen you in years. I thought about you lots over those years. Always wondering how you were. I just learned of your passing today. I am in shock. I never got the chance to tell you how much you touched my life back in the day. You liked me for me. You were always kind and patient with my crazy. My dearest condolences to your family old friend. I am sorry I never got to thank you for being you.

Memory of an unforgettable adventure with Uncle Nick shared by his niece, Lindsay Briggs.

"I am not sure how old we were but I am assuming I was 8 or 9,  and Shane 6 or 7 because Jeremy wasn't there. So, as I recall, my parents let Nick babysit us.... I am guessing they weren't expecting the night we had to transpire :-) I know it was evening because it was dark. Mum and Dad had no sooner left when Nick bundled us up to go to the car races. We lined the side of the road with lots of other people and watched really loud cars take turns racing each other. It was exciting, and I remember thinking that mum and dad had never taken us to something like this :-) Then all of sudden, there were lots of sirens and people running, and Nick made us hurry back to his car. I didn't understand it at the time but later in life I realized it was a illegal drag race! After leaving the drag race Nick asked Shane and I if we wanted to go to the movies, as the night was still young.... He took us to see Roger Rabbit, the midnight showing! :-) I don't think we had ever been up that late. After the movie we went back to Nick's place and we were just taking off our jackets when Nick noticed Dad's headlights pulling in the driveway... "Quick! Go lay down and pretend to be asleep"...and that was the end of our adventure with Uncle Nick :-)"

NICK
When Nick was a baby it was essential for him to receive special care and attention. He needed special liners and cream for his little bottom. When his lips started turning blue and following countless trips to the doctors we found out he had a hole in his heart. They also found out he could not see from one eye and that he was colour blind. Even with these limitations he became an incredible artist. He was very upset he could not tell different colours because he wanted to paint water colours! He always did a brilliant job in chalks & sketching. I have an hawk drawing he did as a young man. 
I’m jumping ahead of myself though. As Nick grew the doctors discovered his foot was turned in or, “so they thought”, only to find out it was his leg!  On one of our many visits to the doctors, there were two old biddies in the waiting room and when I took Nick into the doctors office they said, “Did you see that little boy he has his shoes on the wrong feet”.  My father-in-law, a “rough diamond”, had driven us to the doctors that day.  He was in the waiting room, waiting for us, and of course he spoke up, saying “Have you ever thought there may be a reason he wears his shoes on the wrong feet?” That shut them up.
Throughout his younger years Nick was into mischief.  He had fun doing it, even though I got cross with him many a day, he always ended up making me laugh, he was a little imp!
When I was pregnant with Suzanne, I would chase Nick around the coffee table that his father had made, trying to catch him. He still has the table it meant great deal to him. When I was close to catching him he would dive through the middle of the coffee table! Oh Nick, we had fun that was for sure. There are so many stories. He was a very lively child, always thinking about what he could get into next.
There was the time we went to Woodward’s, New Westminster, he decided to have a tantrum and lay on the floor. I said to him, “When you are finished, come find me”, (can you see the mothers doing that today!). On another day, he had another tantrum, this time it was close to home, Waltham Ave, again I walked away. He was always into something, from my make-up to when he went out in the snow with light cloths on, it was non- stop. Nick was a fun loving child and a pain in the tush quite the handful to keep up with, especially when I had 2 and then 3 other children. We never quite knew what would be next.
He must have been about four or five when he decided to leave home. In a garbage bag he had all his prize processions, including his teddy bear, small books etc. The small books were the in thing at that time and we always picked one up. He loved his “stuff”, (even to the end)! “Pop”, grandpa and I watched him from the basement window, cute little guy, walking down the street. I had asked him if he was going to take a change of clothing and I mentioned he would also need some food, but no, he had all he wanted! He got to the corner and decided this wasn’t the life for him and came home.
 Another memorable time, he was taunting his brother Mark. Again, grandpa and I were watching out the basement window. We asked each other, “How long will it take Mark to turn?” All of a sudden Mark grabbed Nicks arm and before we knew it, Nick had a broken arm! He came in the house looking for sympathy; we’d have none of it! Nick & I waited in emergency for hours! Nick loved to tease, not only his brother but his younger sister too. 
Nick was 5 when his nana passed away. She loved his mischievous face. What are nanas’s for? I remember her taking his hand and telling us look out for him. I always thought she knew something we didn’t!
The years passed and it was time for school. I being me, dressed him in coordinating cloths. Un-known to me, he would hide a pair of play pants, change and trot off to school. When coming home he’d change before coming into the house, I none the wiser. It was years later, with a smile on his face, got-you mum. 
He and his friends build their own skate board ramp, a local attraction and we had countless children from the neighborhood in our driveway.  “I couldn’t look!” He’d climb trees, especially our very large cherry tree out back. This one time, both Nick and Mark climbed to the very top.  A friend had brought them a very large bow & arrow set from Australia. The boys directed the arrows at one of our neighbors. She was always down on them. She’d gather the arrows that went her way and when I noticed she was headed our way, I’d grab Suzy and we’d make a bee line for the clothes closet and let father take care of her! We often wonder what happened to the arrows!
I would tell the children that she really had a heart of gold. I’m not sure they believed me but she did. Those were the days when the children were out for hours playing and we hoped no harm would come to them. 
Nick was a very intelligent child when he wanted to be! He and I went through many ups & downs but he always made me laugh. He played hockey, baseball, took swimming lessons and was good at all of them. He had a paper route too. In those days they did not sit for hours indoors playing games but spent a lot of their waking hours, when they were not at school, doing some activity outside the home with his friends. Using their “Imagination”, they did, and some.
Then came their teen years, we moved to Abbotsford in the early 80’s where Suzy and Nick finished off their schooling. These were years that were relatively difficult for all of us.  Life just seemed so unfamiliar to us. That was when that hideous disease reared its ugly head! Nick tried so hard to keep above it but gradually he got worse. He graduated and I look back now and wonder how he did  it. He loved his family and we him, still we really didn’t have any idea how he suffered. Many would not have made it as many years as he did, bless him. He had such “significant strength”, most of us would have buckled, you have no idea how they suffer even when you have seen if face to face you still can’t identify with it. Schizophrenia is such a disabling disease and there really isn’t much good information available. We know more than the majority but still not enough!
I will wrap up with Nicks medication, in a word “horrendous”. So many side affects. Research will not help Nick but maybe it will help someone else. Mental Health seems to get the least monies, they need more. Because you can’t see the disease it’s not there. It’s time we sat up and did something about it!  Nicks case workers did the best they could, but they too were short staffed. Still had Nick been anywhere else, he would have, in all probability, ended up on the street. Take a trip down town Vancouver. 
Bless you my son. Your mother will not stop talking and I look forward to the day they will find a cure so at least young fellows like your self, will have an opportunity of living a decent life.  Such a wasted life, you could have been anything you wanted, my heart will forever ache.
Loved forever, Remembered forever, Mum   xxxooo

To the Grundy family ; Thanks again for allowing us to be a part of the Celebration of Nicks life. He was and became over the years a wonderful friend and neighbour. As you do, I'm sure, we will miss him as well. Ted & Janis

NICK’S SPEECH BY BROTHER MARK
    Celebration of Life March 06th 2010
Hi thanks for coming, for you to be here Nick has touched your LIFE in some form or other. How do you sum up someone’s life in a few paragraphs?  I will try to give some insight into what I know of Nick.   
Nick wasn’t always the gentle soul we knew him in his adult life.  When young Nick could be a real pain in the butt, on many occasions for example I would be watching T.V. and some object would whip by my ear.  And there was Nick with a  grin on his face. And the chase was on, sometimes he would make it to the top of the stairs and sometimes he wouldn’t, the times he wouldn’t “I would drag him down the stairs thumping all the way and leave him in a crumpled heap on the bottom.
The times he did make it, he would run into the bathroom locking the door and pulling out the draws so I couldn’t use a coat hanger to get in.  I guess that’s where he learned patience waiting me out.  Or waiting out our mother at the dinner table, when he didn’t want to eat something.  He was smart too;  we had an electric lawn mower he and I were supposed to take turns mowing the lawn, he ran over the cord so many times half the cord was electrical tape our dad gave up asking him to mow the lawn and I got a full time job!
He was very talented at drawing at one point he wanted to be an artist, he was also a perfectionist building the beautiful Harley you see at the door.  Nick seemed to have everything going for him until a debilitating condition put him on the side lines which he handled with grace, dignity and humour as best he could.  Even so he still kept his dreams alive; one of these was to go riding with me on our Harley’s, he was going to take a riding course this year.  One of those ones were you see the people riding bikes with bright oranges vests on.  He decided to do that after a little accident on one of my bikes a dirt bike. He was practising in the back parking lot of the shop I was working and could hear the bike!  All of a sudden it got quite, I thought he must have stalled it, about five minutes later Nick comes limping in pushing the bike.
After a little prodding he told me what happened he had gotten a little cocky and given it a little too much gas and shot off the back of the bike.  That didn’t deter him he signed up for a riding school which was cut short when somehow he ended up off the road and into the bushes and trees.  He never did tell me how he managed that one.  Nick never was one to give up he was going to get back on the horse so to speak and take the course again this year.  Nick had several passions in life cars, Harley’s, Marilyn Monroe and his spiritual paths he studied and was initiated by an eastern saint in Shabdon Yoga he was a high initiate in Eckankar, studied Buddhism and Christianity I hope he has found peace with one of these paths.  I would now like to say a few quotes that Nick wrote.






     QUOTE FROM NICK
Death – Sunset in one existence, sunrise to a new life.

I think I have something to offer; I just need a chance to prove it.

I have a smile on my face without actually having a smile on my face.

Don’t leave your spiritual path till tomorrow as you know we all have to die and there is no tomorrow.

Every moment is a perfect moment to LOVE.
One of the most important things a parent or guardian can do for a child self-worth or a sense of self-a-steam that you are loved and cared for, that you matter.
Try to leave the world a better when you die than when you came into it.
LOVE is the most important thing in the world.




One thing you all may not know about Nick is that he was in the process of getting information and writing ideas for a book.

Poem
I’ll give you a kiss
It will last for a while
I’ll give you a wink
It will make you smile

Bless and Release

Nicks Family
My name is Tracy Nevfeldt and I am the owner of Rosebay Florist. Yesterday one of my staff members was looking in the local paper and came across the obituary of your son Nick.
I have owned Rosebay for the past five years and every holiday i.e... Christmas, Valentine’s Day ECT. Nick comes in and buys 7 roses, usually 5 white and 2 red( he found that the white last the longest) Over the years we have had many conversations with him and gotten to know him a little.
We are all very sad to hear of his passing; Nick was always happy and friendly.  This past Valentine’s Day Nick did not come to order his roses and we wondered what had happened I almost phoned him, we were quite puzzled, but now we know.  We will miss him here at Rosebay.
We wanted to share with you a part of Nick’s life that maybe you were unaware of and let you know that he touched each one of us here at Rosebay.
Please know our thoughts and prays are with you and your family.
Tracy and the staff at Rosebay

Wow...I'm afraid if I start writing about all the good times Nick and I had together, I'll never stop. Nick was the very first friend I ever had in life. I met him when we were 3 years old. He came over to play and didn't want to leave. My first recollection of Nicky was riding our tricycles. We used to race up and down the back alley. He would always win, because, his tricycle had a great big front tire. I don't think I ever beat him in a race. I remember when we were about 5 or 6 we started playing hockey. He ended up playing on a different team. We finally got a chance to play against each other and I remeber being so excited cause I was really gonna take him out. My opportunity came when he was behind the net with the puck. My eyes lit up like saucers and I skated after he as fast as I could. I was really gonna smash him too. I lined him up and crashed into him as hard as I could. However, because Nicky was so much bigger than me. I bounced off his butt and hit the ice in crumpled heap. He took the puck up ice and scored a goal! 

We played alot of sports together. Hockey,Baseball,Soccer you name it. 

My fondest memory of Nick is walking to school with him every day. He would religiously show up at my door and we would journey toward the school. I always wanted to take the short cut. But, Nicky insisted on taking the long way around. It was on one of those journeys when I first learned how big Nicky's heart was. We came across a dog that had been run over. Nick went out into the street, wrapped the dog up in his coat and put it beside a big Oak tree. Later that afternoon (after class) we went home and got shovel's and went back and buried that dog. Still wrapped up in Nick's coat.

Nicky's mom took us to the PNE one time, in her lil VW bug. Suzanne came with us. Somehow we got seperated. Suzanne was adament that we needed to this way. Nick was adamant that we needed to go that way. So we parted ways with Suzanne. Nick and I end up in a lil shack for lost kids. Nick decided that was no good and we needed to "break out of here" so we hopped the fence and took off. Long story short..we were re-united with Nick's Mom and Suzanne (who found her in about three minutes) It took Nick and I about three hours to find her.

I moved to Calgary when we were 11 years old. Nick came out to visit about a year later. I remember thinking "he was sooooooo cool" he had this boots. I think we called them "Big John" boots. These things would put Elton John to shame! They had a big bubble tow and a good 3 inches of heel. But man were they cool. We looked all over to find me a pair. We finally did and I was one happy kid.

I didn't see or talk to Nick again until approx 2 or 3 years ago. I was so sad to hear about the struggles he had faced over the years. But at the same time. so proud of the way he handled it. We talked often via e mail and sometimes by telephone. I very much enjoyed those conversations. 

Shortly after hearing of Nick's passing I heard a song on the radio that he and I used to listen too. "Seasons in the Sun" I'm sure you have heard it. "we had joy we had fun we had seasons in the sun....We climbed hills we climbed tree's...skinned our heart's and skinned our knee's" I will forever think of my very first buddy Nick when I hear that song.

Goodbye to you my trusted friend. 

Love 
Scott

Dear Cecilia and Grundy family
   I was saddened to hear the news of Nicks passing,
   Losing a Son/Brother/Friend has to be one of the most saddest of lifes 
   challenges, keep strong.
   My thoughts are with you all.   
   Sincere Sympathy    Darlene and Paddy Francois.

   Thank- You son for giving me this verse to remember you by. James 1 :27  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. " Nick always loved never forgotten ". Dad

Thank-You for sharing your memories with us. What a kind,caring,loving, Son, brother and friend he seemed to be. I know he will always be in your hearts.

may your hearts grow lighter as the days go by.

in over fifty years of knowing ralph,i find it hard to believe that i only met nick once.i'm sure there were many good times in your family with nick,and it just doesn't seem fair to have one of your children pass on before you.keep the good memories nothing else matters.

Dear Grundy Family! It was a privilege to get to know Nick. It was wonderful to get to know his extended family and friends who love him. Thank you for asking us to take part in his “celebration of life” service. We really enjoyed what every family member had to say Saturday afternoon. We will not forget Nick. Our love to you! Paul & Carol Dyck

It is obvious that you were loved and by many and will be dearly missed.  Happy Birthday!  We hope that this one is extra sweet now that you are home.
With Love and Respect,
Dana, Susie, Kynan, Ava and Elijah McCallum

I just found out of Nick's passing this morning on March 7. Words cannot express my sorrow for your family. I know there will be no more suffering for him and he is finally free of the chains that bound his beautiful soul.

 I will forever remember our childhood moments and fun times as teens. I will miss you, but not forget you. We're still gonna go for that bike ride, one day, ok ? Bye...for now.

It's the morning of the memorial & I just watched the video celebrating Nick's life & I'm sorry but I just can't bring myself to attend the service. Nick was a great guy & good friend & I'll forever be grateful for having him as part of my life. My sincerest condolences to all of you. My thoughts are often with all you though you don't ever hear from me. See you again one day Nick!

Love, Dave Renz

We were very sorry to hear of Nick's passing. We still have great memories of our times together. Sorry we cannot be with you to share your grief. Our prayers are with you at this time.       

 Irene and Bob Crockford

I used to love going over to my big cousin Nick's house in Burnaby. I remember looking out the windows of the car as we got closer to the house and seeing Heritage Village and knowing soon we would be there. When we got there it was always the same. I was shy to see him. He always had cool toys and did fun and not so proper things. I just sat here thinking for a word and when I say proper I don't really mean proper. Nick would have us out  playing nicky-nicky nine doors or knocking on someone's door and whipping water balloons at them and running for your lives. So is proper the right word? I don't know? Anyways, I always got a thrill out of being with Nick. He always opened up to me and we had great times together. If it was going up to Skate Board Palace or watching him in the driveway, he could rip it up on that skateboard better than anyone I knew. I would go home and try to be just like him and fall off my board feeling so down with myself. Nick would take me out and show me my dad's old motorbike in the shed and teach me how to color in the "proper" way. I taught my kids how to color pictures the same way Nick taught me, now Jorda and Taryn are carrying the tradition on in a way for old uncle Nicky. Anyone interested in how to color properly must try to get the info from me, but Nick told me never to tell anyone. He entered a coloring contest for the Apple Dumpling Gang when the Disney movie came out, and him and I colored many sheets to try and win. His pictures looked the best and I am sure he did not tell anyone else his secret. When Nick moved from the house in Burnaby to Abbotsford, the games we played changed to nighttime kick the can and tennis ball tag. Good times let me tell you. Diving over peoples fences, down hills, behind cars, and anywhere to get away from Nick's wicked throwing arm. I remember Suzy getting a few in the ars and telling Nick to not "whip em so hard". He took me for a ride in one of his many cars, a Yellow Dart that went so fast it was crazy. I looked over at Nick with his hair blowing in the summer air with the windows down, and thought , this is awesome. I would go see him once and a while at Marks shop or he would pop by my farm or my house and it was always great seeing him. We always talked about doing my interior for my life long project GTO and he was to teach me his art of upholstery. I am going to try it myself and Nick can watch over me like I know he will. I will miss my big cousin and friend. I am starting to get tears in my eyes and I must go. I love ya buddy and I wish we could have spent more days together. Take care of Grandma and Grandpa, hopefully he still isn't giving out those big lip smacking kisses. Your cousin, Matt

To Ralph and Ann and all your family,
So sorry to hear about Nick's passing, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Joanne Van Leeuwen and family.

I have such fond memories of my friend on Bryant Street. To the Grundy family my deepest sympathies.

We never know how long we are going to be on this Earth but Nick made the best of every day he was here. He was a longtime friend and will be missed greatly. We used to keep in touch and hook up everytime I came to town and share what was going on in our lives. I am sorry we didn't get a chance to ride together. My condolences to the Grundy family for their loss.

To all the Grundy family I am so sorry
for your loss at this early age I know
he is in a better place and my thoughts
and prayers are will you all I am so 
sorry I cannot make the service I will
be thinking of you all Love Doddie Lafleur

Our condolences to his family. He was a very kind, gentle man with an infectious smile. We have known Nick as long as we've been married as he was in our wedding party, what a day to remember.  He always took the time to talk with you.  He will be greatly missed.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time. What a wonderful collection of family photos, and a million wonderful memories to cherish! Remember all the good times!
Nick is now in a peaceful place.

P & C Marketing - Debbie, Anne & Lori

We just watched the slide show and shared some great memories of Nick.  What a super job you did of it.  We will all miss Nicky, he was a wonderful nephew to Uncle Bob and I.  I agree that he was always a thoughtful and kind man.  Love to you all, we will be thinking of you on Saturday. Uncle Bob and Auntie Barbara Grundy.  Palm Springs CA

What to say...My thoughts are with you all, Grundy Family.I have nothing but 
great memories of the times Nick shared with myself and others, be it through Cars ,Music, Cruising, Concerts,Hockey,Harley's and those late night conferences he held (at the Mohawk as I recall) back in "The Day", where I had first come to know him.
Take Care.

I havent talked to my old freind in a long time. its hard to think i wont see him again, always calm, always polite, i'll miss Nick.

Birthday greetings from your big bro.
Love, Mark
You will be forever in our hearts XO
Trina, Mark, and Sue

OBITUARY

Nicholas Nick George Grundy

4 March, 1964 – 18 February, 2010

Woodlawn Funeral Home

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