Druhan, Alexander Daniel "Sandy", 81, of Ashdale passed away peacefully on Thursday July 16th in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish.
Born on May 18, 1945, in Ashdale, he was a son of the late Aubrey and Catherine Druhan
Sandy grew up
surrounded by three brothers and six sisters, and from the very
beginning, family became the center of his world. His siblings
remained some of his greatest treasures throughout his life, and the
love they shared never faded.
He loved coaching
hockey and rarely missed an opportunity to watch Kevin play. He was
one of the Ashdale Elks' biggest supporters and could always be found
cheering them on. But if there was one place where
Papa's heart truly belonged, it was on the farm. Everyone remembers
hearing his famous call of "Cow, cow, cow!" and watching the
cattle come running. They trusted him because he treated them with
kindness. In fact, when it came time to butcher a cow, you would never
find a shotgun in Papa's hands. He simply didn't have it in him to
take a life, so he always relied on someone else.
In
1981, Papa met Diane, and from that day forward they built a beautiful
life together. As Catherine lovingly described it, Diane came with
three little orphans who quickly realized that Papa was a gift sent
just for them. It didn't take long before they loved him with all
their hearts, and he loved them as if they had always been his
own. Together, Diane and Sandy enjoyed bingo,
weekend getaways with family and friends throughout the Maritimes, and
wherever they travelled, they never missed going to
church.
Papa was a painter by trade and worked side by side with his dear friend Tommy. Their days were filled with hard work, laughter, stories, and maybe even a drink or two at the end of the day. If you needed a helping hand, Papa was always the first one there. If he had something and you needed it, it became yours. The homestead in Ashdale was a place where everyone was welcome. There was always a fresh pot of tea, cookies or biscuits on the table, and a deck of cards waiting. Papa was known as a true sniper at cards. He would sit quietly until he beat your hand, then look up with that little chuckle that said everything. And who could forget the cling-wrapped emergency cookie he always kept tucked away in his shirt pocket? If you needed it, it was yours.
The last few
years were difficult as Papa's health declined. It was hard to watch
him suffer, yet he never complained and never felt sorry for himself.
He quietly carried on, finding joy in the simple things, especially
spending time with Diane. When I asked his siblings to
describe him, every response reflected the same gentle man we all
knew.
Mary said, "I will love
Sandy forever."
Jean said, "Words can't
express what I thought of him. He was a true friend—so kind
and loving—and children always received a little treat of
candy."
Georgina remembered how kind he
was to all of his nieces and nephews. She said Kathy, his very first
niece, knew by the way he treated her that he was going to be a
wonderful uncle.
Marion called him a gentle soul
who lived a peaceful life and wouldn't hurt anyone. She laughed
remembering him trying to teach her to drive, constantly telling her
to slow down because he didn't want anyone getting hurt, teasing her
for having such a heavy foot.
Aubrey simply
said, "He was a decent human being." He wouldn't hurt a
flea, even though he often threatened everyone with one of his famous
bear hugs. Aubrey also fondly remembered the boxing matches they held
in the parlour after taking apart the dining room table while their
parents were away—until the night they got caught after
breaking a few windows, and the matches came to an abrupt
end.
His nieces and nephews all spoke
of the same man: supportive, kind, gentle, quiet, and never without a
little treat tucked away for them.
Even in his final
moments, Papa thought of others. He waited until Aubrey was by his
side. Then, as he had lived his life—with quiet grace and
without wanting to inconvenience anyone—he peacefully
slipped away in his sleep.
How do you say
goodbye to someone who made everyone feel loved? Someone whose quiet
presence made the world a gentler place? The truth is, we
never really have to say goodbye.
We carry him with
us—in our memories, in our stories, in our laughter, and in
our hearts. Every act of kindness, every cup of tea shared around a
kitchen table, every game of cards, every child given a little treat,
will remind us of Papa. He showed us that greatness isn't
measured by wealth or fame. It's measured by kindness, humility,
generosity, faith, and love. Papa Sandy was the dad everyone
wished they had, the uncle everyone adored, the brother everyone
cherished, and the friend everyone could count
on.
He is survived by his loving wife Diane; children: David of Edmonton, Val and Clint Delaney of Ashdale, and Blaire and Danielle of Ashdale; grandchildren, Lindsay, Leanne and Ashton Aaron, Mckayla, Reece Shaina and Carter; great grandchildren Kiara and Miles;
He was predeceased by siblings Benny Druhn, Lenny Druhan, Ann Tobin, and Margie Cameron.
A visitation will be held on Sunday from 2pm – 4pm and 7pm – 9pm in C.L. Curry Funeral Home, 135 College St., Antigonish. A Funeral Mass will take place on Monday at 11:00 am in St. Joseph’s Church, St. Joseph’s, Antigonish Co., Reverend Thaddeus Chikezie Orga nd Reverend Danny MacLennan presiding. Burial in the parish cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. Joseph’s Lakeside Community Centre.
We would like to thank Dr. Fogerty and the staff at PCU. All of them were very very kind to Papa and showed what true compassion looks like.
We will miss him more than words can say, but we are forever grateful that we were blessed to call him ours. Rest peacefully, Papa. You were deeply loved, and you always will be, thank you for showing us what kindness, gentleness, and unconditional love look like. We will miss you every day, but we promise to carry your goodness with us for the rest of our lives. We love you, and until we meet again, rest peacefully.