Dad died March 9, 2025, at night, peacefully in his sleep.

Both the Canadian Red Cross and B.C. Health Care system were fantastic supporting his final days.

I was thinking this would be the way I’d like to go.

All palliative care was delivered in the home. Better than the hospice or hospital, in our experience.

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I’d always liked the photo below on a German document. Dad had it posted on the fridge.

We could assume it was a military I.D. from his years serving with the Canadian Armed Forces in Deutschland — BUT it turned out to be his German Fishing Licence from 1962.

I’m posting this photo as it preceded the injury suffered while Dad was playing hockey for the Canadian Forces team. He lost an eye from a skate to the face which led to a medical discharge from the Army.

… Dad loved fishing. He owned 6 boats over his lifetime.

End of life came shockingly quickly.

One day we were grocery shopping and downing chicken wings at the local eatery. The next his bodily systems began to shut down.

One of the first warning signs was a loss of interest in watching his favourite TV shows: Hogan’s Heroes, Perry Mason, Matlock, Father Brown, Bonanza, Beverley Hillbillies, Green Acres.

Dad loved routine. Every day the same schedule. Any change not appreciated.

Here’s a slideshow of photos from his retirement years. Dad died age-94 — still with a driver’s licence.

Dad and I spent many days at French Creek Marina watching birds in the river delta.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Mom & Dad bought insurance in 2014 which paid for most of their funeral expenses. In fact, all we had to do was make one phone call to a 24 hour / day number and most of the arrangements were made for us. It simplified things immensely when we were grieving.

In addition, they’d simplified their estate as much as possible. We still had one investment that required probate, but the rest was very easy.