Joseph Henry Purdy

Purdy – Joseph Henry, 99, of Milton, Queens Co., passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday October 25th, 2016.

He was born in Liverpool, N.S. on February 15th, 1917, a son of the late Thomas and Viola (Wambolt) Purdy.

Joe was a captain of a tuna fishing vessel and took tourists tuna fishing before joining the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. During the war, Joe served as a gunner onboard the HMCS Oakville which did escort duty between North America and Europe, and saw action during the Battle of the Atlantic. After the war, he worked at Rossignol Steel & Engine Co. in Liverpool before joining the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, where he was a machinist on various survey ships, surveying the Canadian coasts and the N.W.T.. Near the end of his career, he transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and worked on fisheries boats in Nova Scotia until he retired in December of 1980. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and spending time with his wife of fifty-five years, Mary. He was a loving father, grandfather and friend “Daddy Joe” to all who loved him.

He is survived by his daughters Kathleen (Jim) Olds of Dartmouth; Coleen (Brian) Roy of Greenwood; his sons John “Jack” (Frances) Purdy of Lawrencetown; Brian (Beverly) Purdy of Milton; grandchildren Jacquelyn Mann, Victoria Conrad, Teresa Soosar, Michelle Purdy, Tracey Oickle, Jeff Purdy and Brian Roy., twenty one great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren. Half-sisters Modena Reske of Bridgewater, Myra Purdy of New Glasgow, half-brother Leon Purdy of British Columbia. Several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife Mary (Taylor), sisters Rhoda Purdy, Bessie Zwicker, Mona McAulay, half sister Barbara Kempton and brother Donald Purdy.

Visitation will be Thursday evening, October 27, 2016 in Chandlers’ Funeral Chapel, Liverpool with a legion memorial service being held at 7:00 p.m.. Funeral service will be Friday, October 28, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church Liverpool. Father Charles Offor officiating. Reception to follow. Interment will be in St. Gregory’s Catholic Cemetery, College Street, Liverpool. Family flowers only, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, Kidney Foundation of Nova Scotia or St. Gregory’s Catholic Church, Liverpool. Online condolences may be made to www.chandlersfuneral.com