The family of Captain Roger Neil Penney are very sad to share the news of his death on June 13, 2023 at Western Regional Memorial Hospital in Corner Brook, NL.
Roger was born in St. Anthony on May 24th 1945, the third boy to Mary and Harold Penney. His childhood was spent between North West River, Labrador and St. Anthony. After finishing school, he worked with heavy equipment to save up to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot. He started his aviation training in Moncton, NB in 1966 and went on to get his commercial and airline transport licence. Throughout his career, he flew everything from a single engine Kit Fox to a CL-215 water bomber. He was always a bush pilot at heart and never a fan of the suit and tie. He loved adventure and was not one to follow the “straight and narrow path” in life. He met Catherine on a medevac flight; she the young doctor and he the pilot of the first air ambulance in the province. Most of his career was spent as a pilot with the Newfoundland and Labrador Water Bomber Crew and he wore his orange flight suit with pride. He enjoyed the thrill of the job but missed his family while living away for six months of each year. The final flight of his career was to bring home a retired Canso waterbomber as a permanent memorial to his cousin, Captain Ron Penney, who tragically died during a waterbomber crash. This was a very emotional journey for Roger as he retired with the Canso that day.
Roger loved spending time with his grandchildren and his dogs. In his retirement he moved to Pasadena to be closer to his family but he always called St. Anthony home. He was passionate about preserving the heritage of the northern peninsula and enjoyed sharing stories about the area with tourists at the Grenfell Heritage Hotel, where he was part owner. He enjoyed gardening, landscaping in his Kubota, exploring our province in his RV and keeping up with current events on CNN as well as the latest episode of Coronation Street. Roger could have a ‘yarn’ with anyone, could always remember the punch line of a joke, loved a good “April fool” and reminded us to see the lighter side of life. He was very good at living in the moment, ‘one day at a time’. He will always be remembered as “PO9” to his granddaughters.
Roger leaves to mourn his wife of 46 years, Catherine Penney (nee Farmer); daughters Nicola Penney, Victoria White (Brian), Lisa Renardson (Reza); granddaughters Abigail, Charlotte, and Rosie; grandsons Ryan, Reece and Rio; sisters-in-law Dora Penney, Stephanie Roe (Philip), Susan Pritchards (Mark) and brother-in-law John Farmer; the many nieces and nephews who thought of him as ‘Uncle Rog’, many cousins (special cousins Tom and Roy) and a large circle of family and friends.
Roger is predeceased by Harold and Mary Penney (nee Bird), brothers Gerald Penney and Guy Penney, sister-in-law Alma Penney (Bussey), and brother-in-law Andrew Chorzelski and many cousins.
Thank you to close friends Brent Thistle and Jonah Canning for their support during this difficult time; many other friends and colleagues who supported our family during his time in hospital. Thank you to the staff at Western Memorial Regional Hospital and the palliative care team. A special thank you to his family doctor, Dr. Lorena Power for all the care over the years.
At Roger’s request, cremation has taken place. There will be no formal visitation as Roger was not a formal guy! A celebration of his life will take place in St. Anthony on July 8th at 2:00 pm from the St. Anthony United Church with Rev. Arthur Kinsella offiating. Interment to follow in the Fishing Point United Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Roger would have appreciated any donations be made towards the upkeep of the Canso Memorial park for Ronald Penney and Yannic Dutin in St. Anthony. For information on how to donate please contact info@stanthony.ca
