March 27th, 1963 – August 2nd, 2024
The family of John Penney are very sad to share the news of his passing on August 2nd, 2024.
John was born in St. Anthony, NL on March 27th, 1963. While he was raised and attended school in St. Anthony, John and his family spent summers at their cabin in Christmas Island, Cape Breton, NS for over 23 years. In between all the chores of farming and work around the cabin, John always spoke fondly of the fun times and adventures there, from swimming and beach fires to dances and gatherings with friends.
John had a strong work ethic and was never afraid to roll up his sleeves, or coveralls. He earned a trade in carpentry from St. Anthony Trade School. If you asked John though, he would say he started working in kindergarten when he would tag along with his father to airport. He worked with Penney’s Aircraft Services, a company started by his father in the 1960s, and always enjoyed chatting with other co-workers and people passing through on their travels. John also loved to be out on the water whether it was off somewhere in motor boat, steaming up to Makkovik, or out fishing for crab or cod.
Although there was always work to be done, John always made time for fun as well. Family and friends were important to John. He loved to have people come around whether it be at home, the cabin or up in his shed. His sense of adventure, kindness, humour, and caring-nature made him known and loved by many. John made friends easily wherever he went.
John was very proud to be Inuk, and loved any opportunity to travel to the north coast of Labrador. In 2019, John travelled to Nain with his mom Dora for event marking the 100th anniversary of the Spanish flu in Okak. A highlight of the trip for John was getting to see Black Island where his mother was born. Getting to experience this with his mom was something John felt privileged to be able to do.
With many fond and loving memories, John leaves to mourn his partner Khatija and long anticipated daughter (coming soon); mother Dora (nee Ford); sister Patti Penney, nephews Lyndon, Dylan, Matthew, great-nephews Duncan and Thomas, and great-niece Hannah; sister Carolyn (Craig) Compton and nephew Lucas; brother Robert (Helen) Penney, nephew Jacob and niece Eve; sister Christina (Lott) Ropson, nephew Jack and niece Emily; mother-in-law Audrey, father-in-law Tabi, and sister-in-law Yasmin; as well as a very large circle of family and friends.
John was predeceased by his father Gerald; grandparents Harold and Mary (nee Bird) Penney and, Julius and Rosina (nee Pamak) Ford.
John was a kind-hearted person who would help out anyone wherever he could; from helping someone to fix or build something, to making them smile and laugh. There was so much in life that John was looking forward to. Although he was taken from us too soon, John will live on through all of the stories and memories we have with him. As John would say when he’d raise his glass, “Cheers to many years of eternal happiness and good health, and if you have either or you’re in good shape, the rest is immaterial… I made that one up myself.”
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Nain TaKuaKautik Food Bank (takuakautik@gmail.com), the Orange Shirt Society (https://orangeshirtday.org/), or another indigenous organization.
Visitation will be held at the Funeral Home In St. Anthony form 2-4 pm and 7-8pm on Sunday August 11th 2024 with a family service being held at 8pm. The Funeral will be held form St. Anthony United Church at 11am on Monday August 12th, 2024 followed by burial at the Fishing Point United Cemetery, St. Anthony
Preregister to watch the funeral live at the link below
https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=e1951223-4c2d-4f7b-801a-f95c10d9e6c4
