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It is with broken hearts, but also with gratitude for a life well lived that we announce the passing of Phillip Howes.
Phill was born on June 14, 1950 in New Osgoode, Saskatchewan (a town founded by his great grandfather Fred Howes in 1904, who along with his 2 brothers left Osgoode Ontario and staked out homestead claims along the Carrot River Valley, in the then Northwest Territories of Canada).
Phill was the second son of Wilhelmina Howes & Richard Ernest Howes (both deceased). His older brother Nicki died at 5 years old. Phill spent the remainder of his youth in Northern Manitoba, first The Pas and later Swan River, before moving to Ontario in 1970.
Like his ancestors Phill was an adventurer, an outdoorsman & a lover of animals. He could build, fix or create pretty much anything & was the person you wanted to have around during a natural disaster.
After retiring from a 30+ year job with Canada Post Phill spent many years working with & on the board of the newly formed community organization “The Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Caledon”, where primarily did pickups of donations for the many years of their “Great Big Garage Sale” - a yearly event that raised over $300,000.00 to fight the Rockfort Quarry (close to the Cheltenham Badlands), an OMB decision that they finally ended up winning in 2010 after 13 years of relentless dedication & work.
This work led Phill into his final 15-year career as a trusted & sought after driver, property maintenance manager & handyman for many of the Coalition members. He loved this job & the people he worked for. Many remained dear friends.
One of Phill’s proudest & lasting accomplishments was helping to create McMillan Park in Erin. He along with his friend Joe Burchill built the Erin Garden Club’s rock garden there & collected & placed all the large stones in the park.
Phill & JoAnne spent 28 wonderful years living in the countryside of Erin, transforming there 3 1/3 Niagara Escarpment property into a lush garden wonderland with a pond, a cabin, walking trails & many Phill built Follys along the way, all while enjoying our many loved pets that included: dogs, cats, a potbellied pig, a donkey, goats, chickens & especially many generations of Indian Runner Ducks. (Phill was an excellent duck herder!)
So many wonderful memories of big gatherings & epic Canada Day celebrations with family & friends before moving to Cobourg 3 years ago. Unfortunately, soon after arriving in Cobourg he became ill, and he didn’t get to fully enjoy all Cobourg has to offer.
Phill will be forever loved and missed by his partner of 55 yrs JoAnne (nee McInall) Howes, his daughter Jennifer (Randy), son Jody (Ron), grandchildren Michael (Therese), Colin (Maria) & Katrina. Mother in-law Sheila McInall, sister & brother in-laws Trish (Dave), Brenda (Steve), Danny, Theresa (Paul), Brian (Anne Marie), Carol, Bill (Leslie) & Cathy (Perry) as well as many nieces & nephews, his Groendijk cousins, Petro (Elly), Rob, Chantelle & family in the Netherlands & his many friends.
At Phill’s request, there will be no service but a Celebration of life will take place next spring. Anyone wishes to make a donation please consider the Kidney Foundation of Canada or Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened” (Dr. Seuss)
You couldn't know Phill and not love him. He was big-hearted and had a ready laugh. His stories were legendary and very entertaining. We were friends. I tried to persuade him and Joanne to follow me to Nova Scotia. They came for a visit which I still cherish. They didn't come to stay, however. Goodbye dear friend.