John Louis Meagher

Hammonds Plains, NS

It is with profound sadness that the family of John Louis Meagher announces his passing on November 21, 2019 at the QEII Hospital, Halifax, NS after a short but difficult battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His daughter Krista and wife Liz were blessed to be able to be at his side in the final hours of his life.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, John was the son of the late Eric Ephriam Meagher and Leonora Daphne (Wannell) Meagher. John spent his early years in Waverley and graduated from Sidney Stephen High School in Bedford. He later attended the Nova Scotia Institute of Technology (NSIT) in Halifax.

Following high school, John worked with Air Canada for a number of years as an Assistant Flight Dispatcher and enjoyed travelling with friends to various southern destinations and many places in the USA. With the move of Air Canada’s flight dispatch office to Montreal, John changed careers and attended NSIT to study electrical construction. He spent 25 years as an electrician in the construction industry until his retirement in 2004. He was an active member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 625, and served on their Executive Board for a number of years.

John loved sports, both as an active participant and an avid fan and enjoyed playing baseball, curling and golf during his younger years. In later life one of his favourite pastimes was as a fan, watching many different sports on television or in attendance at Moosehead games with brother-in-law Don Couse. John especially loved the outdoors, whether gardening in the summers, barbequing, or just sitting on his patio having an early morning coffee. His extensive gardens at their home in Hammonds Plains brought him much pleasure and were often admired by others. When the weather turned colder, he enjoyed the outside from his beloved sunroom, and even mounted flood lights on the sunroom roof so that he could watch the falling snow while sitting in his chair by the fireplace. His creative talents were also evident in his woodworking and furniture making, as well as in building the home in which they lived. John could build or repair anything, often with no plans, working it out as he went and ending up with a perfect outcome. His belief in helping others was evident through his work with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and his ready willingness to lend a hand to anyone in need. John will be especially remembered for his wonderful sense of humour and ability to make people laugh in any situation. If laughter was emanating from a room and John was present, it was usually him who was at the center of it. In his retirement years he enjoyed coffee with Dave, movies with Scottie, lunches with friends, trips with his wife Liz and visits to his son, Shawn in Victoria, B.C. But most important to him was his faith and his family, his wife Liz, children Krista and Shawn and granddaughters Ella and Ava who brought him tremendous joy. He was immensely proud of them and all of their accomplishments. He loved the summer trips to PEI with his family when the children were young. He had great patience with them, whether helping them learn to skate or to drive a car. Most recently he loved taking his granddaughter Ella to skating lessons in Bedford. When he became too ill to do this any longer he insisted that Ella’s Mom, Krista ‘take lots of videos’ and he would watch them from his hospital bed. He said they ‘made his day’.

John will be greatly missed by his wife of 40 years, Liz Crowley Meagher, who together with John, raised their family and enjoyed their retirement years in Hammonds Plains. He will also be sadly missed by his daughter Krista Meagher (Jeffrey Gillis), Hammonds Plains, son Shawn Meagher, Victoria, BC and his granddaughters Ella and Ava Gillis who loved their ‘Grampy” and will especially miss his jokes, tickling and treats.

John is also survived by his, brother, Ted Meagher, Beaver Bank, sister Suzzette (Ben) Pryde, Lower Sackville, sister-in-law Carol Meagher, Bedford, several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Tony Meagher, Waverley, nieces Tracey and Kimberley Meagher.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and other staff of 8A at the VG hospital who provided exceptional care, and the staff of the MICU unit, especially nurse Jeff, who were very kind and understanding to the family at John’s passing.

In keeping with John’s belief in our responsibility to help those less fortunate, in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Chalice at www.Chalice.ca.

Remains are in custody of J. A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, NS. Funeral Service will be held on Friday, November 29, 2019, 3:00 P.M. at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic Church, 18 Scholars Road, Upper Tantallon, NS.