Obituary of Bernard Granville "Bun" Oakley

OAKLEY, Bernard Granville "Bun" CWO (ret’d): Halifax, surrounded by his loving family, Bun passed away on December 20, 2013. Born on November 8, 1934, he was a son of the late Edward and Angela (LaPierre) Oakley. A 35 year member of the RCAF, Bun travelled Canada with his family and ended his career with a secondment to External Affairs that took Joan and him to Tanzania, East Africa.  He retired to Brooklyn, Hants Co., NS, where he became an involved member of St. John’s parish (Windsor) and the Knights of Columbus.  He bonded with Fr. Claude MacLean over gardening. He was an avid sportsman in hockey, baseball, boxing, golfing, fishing and hunting, was a passionate family man and he loved his 14 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren and also spending time with his brothers and sisters brought him joy. Bun is survived by his wife of 58 years and the love of his life Joan (White); son, Chris (Thelma) Oakley, Coquitlam, BC; daughters, Belinda (Mario) Papini, London, ON; Andrea Oakley, Halifax, NS; brother, Edward (Sandy) Oakley; sisters, Dottie (Ronnie) Muir and Jessie Hampton. He was predeceased by daughter, Denise (Rob) McPherson, London, ON; siblings, Ernest, Emily, Beatrice, Olive, Edna, Gerald and Vernon. Arrangements are under the care of J. Albert Walker Funeral Home (2005) Ltd. (477-5601) 149 Herring Cove Rd., where visitation will be held from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. on Monday, December 23. Funeral Mass will be at 10a.m. on Tuesday December 24 from St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, St. Michael’s Ave, Father Sam Basta as celebrant. Interment to take place at a later date in Gate Of Heaven Cemetery, Lower Sackville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or a charity of your choice. Bun fought dementia in his final days, and his family would like to thank those who cared for him with love and compassion at Maplestone Nursing Home, Bissett Court, the Nova Scotia Hospital, Dartmouth General and the QEII Hospital (ward 8.2).