GILLIS, John Godfrey ‘Johnnie’

Whitney Pier
 
John Godfrey ‘Johnnie’ Gillis died peacefully on Monday, Oct. 6, 2015 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.

Johnnie is survived by his daughters, Karen, Cathy (Neil MacDonald) and Trish (Doug Dufour); two grandsons, Greg and Jack; sister, Colleen; mother-in-law, Hilda MacDonald; as well as many nieces and nephew who will miss him dearly. He is also survived by Bernie MacCuish, the brother he never had but should have.  

He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Margaret; son, John ‘John-John’; parents, John and Mamie; sisters, Margie Hartigan (Tommy), Laurie McCarron (Jimmy) and Bonnie Tobin (Harry).

Johnnie was born on Oct. 5, 1940 and was the only son of John and Mamie Gillis. He was also the only and darling brother to Margie, Laurie, Colleen and Bonnie who had waited a long time for a brother and believed that the one they were finally given was perfect.

He married Mary Margaret MacDonald in 1966 and had four children, Karen, Cathy, John ‘John-John’ and Patricia. They had the privilege of growing up with a father who was always there, who loved children, and who always had time.  By example, he taught them the importance of honesty, hard work and always standing up for what is right. 

Johnnie worked as an electrician at Sydney Steel where he was known as a skilled electrician and a man not afraid to take a stand.  

Following his retirement from Sydney Steel, Johnnie settled into a pattern of living life to the fullest. He was the grandfather every child wants and every child deserves — slipping his grandsons spending money when their mother wasn’t looking, telling them stories she wouldn’t want them to hear, and being there always. He was often seen at Polar Bear Beach entering the frigid water a toe and time, yelping all the way and loving it; he was a regular skater at arenas all around Cape Breton and his long and graceful skating strides will be remembered and missed by the friends he made there; and, he was an avid motorcyclist who loved the freedom the open road provided.  

More than anything, Johnnie was a very private man who loved quietly but fiercely.  Those he counted as family and friends enjoyed a bond so strong and so sure it can and will be counted as “one-in-a-lifetime” and Johnnie would want them all to know that life is best enjoyed with a song on the iPod, a cigar between your lips and the sun on your skin.

A funeral mass to celebrate Johnnie’s life will be held at Holy Redeemer Church on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015 at 10 a.m. with Fr. Paul Murphy officiating. A reception to share stories and laughter will follow at the Pier Community Funeral Home on Church Street, Whitney Pier. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.  

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Johnnie may be made to the Hospice Cape Breton Residence Fund (http://hospicecapebreton.org/get-involved/donate/).

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Pier Community Funeral Home.

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Sincere sympathy to Gillis family. We were very close during our school years.
From:  Calvin LeDrew