May 25, 1918 – September 28, 2013
Our father passed away peacefully on September 28, 2013 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. Dad had a long and happy life nurturing and caring for the people in his parishes. He leaves behind his son Barry (Mignonne); daughter Nancy; 5 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.
He was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan and was the sixth of eight children. Dad spent his childhood playing and going to school in Northern Saskatchewan. He received his calling and entered Emmanual Ministeral College in 1938. Upon graduation as a Deacon he was sent to the Little Pine Native Reservation and other outlying parishes.
Dad was Priested on April 11, 1942, and married our mother a year later. With Mom by his side he started his ministry which was to last for 71 years. His first two parishes were Paynton and Radison in Saskatchewan. In 1944 he was asked to come to the Diocese of BC to St. John’s Ladysmith as their new Minister. From Ladysmith dad moved to St. Albans, Victoria, where he raised funds to build a new church hall. In 1957 he was asked to move to Duncan to assume duties for three parishes, St. Peters Quamichan, St. Andrews, Cowichan Station and also to hold services in a little hall at Maple Bay. Dad was at Duncan for 9 years and moved back to Victoria to St. Michaels and All Angels on West Saanich Road. Settling in was not to be and after a short 5 years in this parish he accepted what would be his last parish at St. Matthias on Richmond Road. Dad retired in 1983 from St. Matthias and went to work at Christ Church Cathedral where he would actively remain for the next 31 years.
Dad led an active and full life, filled with love, humor, and laughter. He always had an easy smile accompanied with a twinkle in his eye and a wink coming in close second. Dad touched many lives in his Vocation as a Minister and through this ministry, which continued right up to his death, made many friends and was a friend to countless more.
He had a beautiful tenor voice and could be heard lending his voice to the Church Choirs and Linden Singers, as well as performing with the Barber Shoppers for many years. He was an active member of the Mt. Newton Masonic Lodge and he was the Padre for the St. John’s Ambulance.
In his free time he could be found in the garden nurturing his Dahlia’s and Sweet Peas. He enjoyed both lawn bowling and alley bowling. Dad loved his sports; hockey, football, curling, golf and could often be found engrossed in the game that he was watching as well as adding his own colorful interpretation and commentary of the event.
Dad was an unassuming and modest person and he would have been overwhelmed to see the out pouring of love that has been shown to his family.
Both Barry and I are grateful for his ministry and for the strength of family that he has instilled in both of us. We will more than miss him, but we are strengthened to know that we will see him again in a far better place.
Thank you all for your support.
Ted’s funeral will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria BC, at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 12, 2013. Our family would like to thank Dr. Cuthbert, Dr. Stigant, Dr. Peppler, Dr. Cavers and the nursing staff on the 8th floor of the Royal Jubilee Hospital for the kindness and care given to our Father. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dad’s name to Christ Church Cathedral or a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
21 Responses
What a marvelous man. I attended St. Matthias for a short time but Ted touched my life personally assisting at the death of my father and for helping me with legal issues. He was always available for a kind or humourous word and, although I lived abroad, family always remembered to recount their most recent conversations with him.
Ted was a great friend to all of us in the retired clergy and spouses group. I know he has heard those words “Well done good and faithful servant “and and I know there have been some wonderful reunions
We were so sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. He was a wonderful man & was a big part of all our family. He married Jim & I ,45 years ago, and was there when my mother Tilly Quick was sick with cancer. He was so good to my dad and I and continued to be there 17 years later when mom passed away. He performed services for many members of our family and extended family. He will be surely missed by all who knew him. Regards Sharon & Jim Pine. (nee Quick)
On behalf of the members of the Retired Clergy & Spouses Fellowship, may I say how much we are going to miss dear Ted. He was always a faithful presence at our meetings and we enjoyed his ready wit and twinkling smile. We thank God for his life and ministry and for the great pleasure of having known him.
Freda Voysey
Secretary
Our deepest sympathy to Rev. Ted’s family. We remember him as a member of the Barbershop Singers Choir and would often run into him while shopping in the Cook St. village. He was one of the kindest, dearest persons we’ve ever known and he will be much missed.
My sincere condolences to cousins, Barry and Nancy and their families on the passing of my favourite uncle Ted. I had a few great visits with him and Isabel over the years, and I still don’t know how or why he won the Easter Egg Breaking Contest each Easter.
He was a wonderful man and will be missed. All my love. Kind regards, Gary and family in Regina.
Dear Nancy and Barry,
Even at the ripe old age of 95, I was saddened to read of Ted’s passing.
Such fond memories of him come to mind. As children we loved that warm, happy, smiling, kind face. He was always so welcoming to everyone and remember how the congregation exploded under his leadership. I remember him and your Mum at Mum and Dad’s parties, and they were both so much fun. We did lose touch, which always happens, and it was a joy to reconnect for my wedding at St Peters. I remember saying that I wouldn’t get married without Ted there, he had made such an impact on me as a child.
Please accept my condolences, and my thoughts are with both of you and your families. Robin
To the Greenhalgh Family,
I have so many fond memories of Ted whether it was working many funerals with him with McCalls or seeing him at Lodge, he was always up beat and in good spirits sporting his small smile and glimmer in his eye.
I especially enjoy the times that he would ride along with me in the funeral coach on the way out to the cemetery for burials – the rides were always too short as he was a great story teller.
My most cherished memory of Ted was when he, Hywell Jones and Stan Kellow were on the Clipper going to Seattle for a Mariners game and Kevin Armstrong and I had lots of laughs with the 3 of them on the trip over and actually ran into them a couple of times in Seattle.
Ted was a true gentle-man – thanks for memories Archie!
…Robin Heppell
We will miss the twinkle in his eye and his great humour although we hadn’t seen him in a while.
Chocolate cake always reminds me of him and brings a smile to my face
On his next journey he will find a parish to serve, a choir to sing with and his garden will always be tended and beautiful – of this I know. He was one in a million and I know I’m a better person for having been touched by him.
All our sympathies and love in this time.
We felt that “Pops” embodied the word Christianity and I thank God for his presence in my life for all these years. His sparkle, his humour and his courage throughout all circumstances that life brought will continue to be an inspiration to those of us who are left behind.
Our heartfelt sympathies to all the family.