JOHN MICHAEL O'BRIEN

Burial of the late John Michael O’Brien, 78, will be held in the spring at Saint Margaret’s Church of Scotland Cemetery, River Denys Mountain.

Mr. O’Brien died November 19, 2019, in Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home.

Born on November 3, 1941, on River Denys Mountain, he was a son of the late Vincent and Christene (MacLeod) O’Brien. He spent his entire life in Glendale with his grandparents Daniel Ignatius and Margaret Sarah MacLeod. He met Christine MacDonald, and they built a life together at his home in Maple Brook. He worked hard all his life cutting wood, working the boats at the local pulp mill, but the majority of his life he worked for the Department of Natural Resources as operator of the River Denys Fire Tower for 26 years. From time to time, he would meet some curious travellers from as far away as Switzerland and Holland, as well as the locals.

He is survived by his life partner, Christine MacDonald, Glendale; three sisters, Patricia ‘Patsy’, North Grant; Theresa Smeenk (Benny), Maryvale; Irene, Halifax; three brothers, Joe (Della), Gerard, both of Sydney; Lawrence (Joyce), Antigonish; several nieces, nephews and extended family; cousin, Rankin MacLeod, who spent many years living next to him as a young boy, cutting pulp together in later years and often stopping by to lend a helping hand.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Mary MacGillivary, Margaret Annette Brigley; two brothers, Brian, Blaise.

Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.

Online condolences: www.greensfuneralhome.ca