Bennett, Alphonsus Leo, 80, of Afton, passed away peacefully on November 7 in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish.
Born in St. Paul’s Newfoundland, Al was the only son of Frances Bennet and the late George Bennett.
Growing up the only boy with seven sisters, Al was the apple of his mother’s eye, who is 107 years old at the time of writing this, she will miss him dearly. Married for 40 years, Al and his wife Linda raised three children together in Labrador City. It was here that he spent 30 years working as a drill operator with The Iron Ore Company of Canada. Upon retirement he and Linda purchased a camping ground in Penobsquis, NB which they ran together for 12 years before returning to Afton where Linda is from. Music was a big part of Al’s life and he love singing, playing guitar and accordion, and of course his "ugly stick". Al loved camping, fixing things, and tending to his garden. He even loved decorating cakes which he and Linda did together for over ten years, he might have enjoyed it more then she did!
Besides his mother Frances and his loving wife Linda, Al is survived by his children, Darius (Nicole) Bennett, Calgary; Sonya (Gary) Twyne, Lower Sackville; Darcy (Jessie) Bennett , Afton; grandchildren: Anna, Aiden, Clarie, Elise, George, and Henry; sisters: Lillian (Fraser) Keough, Parsons Pond NL; Margurite Keough, Parsons Pond NL; Gloria Bennett, Cornerbrook, NL; Grace (Russ) Drover, Parsons Pond, NL; Madonna (Glen) King, Cornerbrook NL; sisters-in-law, Alvina (Ronnie) MacDonald, Afton; Lorrain Purcell, South River; Brenda (Matthew) Mattie, Williams Point; and Maryanne Jarvis, Halifax; brothers-in-law, Jimmy Jarvis, Moncton, Wayne (Pam) Jarvis, Fort McMurray.
Besides his father he is predeceased by sisters Vera Hatcher & Genny Holloway; brothers-in-law Charles Keough, Robert Purcell, and Charles Jarvis.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the healthcare professionals in Palliative Care at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, especially Dr. Che and nurses Valery Pettipas and Laura Ann Gillis, family doctor Dr. Menard, the VON and the doctors and nurses at Cape Breton Regional Hospital Cancer Centre.
Cremation has taken place. A private family service will be held on Thursday in C.L. Curry Funeral Home, 135 College St. Antigonish, Reverend Steve Croft presiding. Final resting place will be in Newfoundland at a later date. Memorial Donations may be made to Palliative Care – St. Martha’s Regional Hospital. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home. On line condolences: www.clcurry.com