Obituary of John Nelson Perry

John Nelson Perry, age 83, passed away quietly at the DECH hospital in Fredericton, NB on March 26, 2020. Born in Summerside, PEI, John was the son of the late Daniel and late Delia (née Gallant) Perry. Always in a rush to do things, opinionated, strong-willed, stubborn, and with an aversion to technology, John was a caring and generous man with a terrific sense of humour, he enjoyed traveling, and he loved to talk and tell stories to anyone who would listen (or pretend to listen). At age 17, he left Summerside, and lied about his age in order to join the army. He spent the next 22 years traveling, raising a family, and serving his country proudly: he deployed with the UN’s very first peace keeping mission during the Suez Canal Crisis to Egypt, 1956. He married Yolande in 1958 and together they went on numerous postings across Canada, and also to Germany from 1961-63. Upon returning from Germany, he briefly left the military to try a new life in Massachusetts. Living in the US wasn’t as he hoped and in less than a year, he returned to Canada to re-enlist in the army. In 1976, he retired from the Canadian Armed Forces to begin a second career with the Motor Vehicle Branch of the NB Department of Transportation: first as a Driver Examiner, and then as a Highway Safety Education Officer until his retirement in 1991. John spent much of his life serving others: he volunteered as caretaker for St. Francis of Assisi cemetery in Lincoln, a Big Brother with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, a 4th Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus, a 60-year member of the Royal Canadian Legion (holding numerous executive positions), a volunteer at the DECH hospital, volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels, and many other community organisations. He was very proud to have attended and participated in Remembrance Day ceremonies every single year since the age of 9, in 1945. Twice in recent years, he even travelled to Vimy, France to take part in Remembrance Day ceremonies. John will be missed by his loving wife of 61 years, Yolande (née Bourque), and his five children: Annette of Prince George, BC; Shawn (Anca) of Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Patty (Shawn) of Cornwall, PEI; Randy of Toronto; and Derek of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. John was very proud of his 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. John was the 5th of 13 children and was predeceased by sister Lorraine and brothers Clarence and Leroy, and 4 half-siblings: Millicent, Cedric, Clifford and Henry. He is survived by 5 sisters: Evelyn (Al) of Riverview NB; Lillian (Dan) of Halifax, NS; Leona of Edmonton AL, Auldine of Egmont Bay, PEI and Cecelia of Summerside, PEI, several nieces and nephews. A service of remembrance will be held at a later date. Donations in John's name to the Canadian Mental Health Association, The Canadian Legion #93 or to Parkinson Canada would be appreciated by the family.