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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
CURNOCK, Donald - With heartfelt sorrow and great sadness we regret to announce the passing of our loving husband, father and grandfather, Donald Anthony Curnock, age 74, on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. Donald passed away at home surrounded by his family after battling lung cancer.
Our memory of him will be forever imprinted in our hearts and souls. We were so blessed to have him as long as we did.
Donald was born in Fairyglen, Ogmorevale, County of Glamorgam, Wales, the only child to his parents William Clifford and Doris (Lea) Curnock. He was orphaned as a young boy and then moved to England with his mother's family and lived with grandmother, Polly Curnock.
After his grandmother' passing Donald came to Canada at the age of 13 to live with his Uncle Edward Curnock and his wife Edna, in Corkery in the Ottawa Valley, and their children Aileen, Ted, Linda, Bill and Anna Mary, who loved him as one of their own. As Donald grew older he also lived with the Ballards and their family, also in Corkery, for a period of time.
Donald eventually went on to join the Royal Canadian Navy as a young man and sailed many journeys, returning to Wales only once. On one of his many sails he met the love of his life in Halifax on a New Year's Eve, Mary Charlotte who became his best friend, soul mate and devoted wife. They resided there for a time, where they had their family and then returned to the Ottawa Valley for a few years then moved to Cape Breton to live.
He worked for many years as an industrial mechanic, then at Marine Atlantic as a commissionaire until he retired in 2000.
Donald is survived by his wife of 53 years, Charlotte (Wells) Curnock and his children, Joan Kanary (Doug), Donna Markie (Gerry), Michael (Lynn) and Amanda Jabalee (Paul); his grandchildren, Jillian, Michael, Christine, Luke, Savannah, Kassandra, Mitchell, Daniel, Alexandra, Lillian and Olivia and one great-granddaughter, Madeline; a special Aunt Gwen in England, nieces and nephews and cousins; also survived by his favourite sister-in-law, Eileen West and her husband, Tommy; brothers-in-law, Arthur and John Wells and his faithful companion, his dog Angel.
Donald was predeceased by his parents, Clifford and Doris (Lea) Curnock and his in-laws, Jonathan and Lillian Wells.
Special thanks to the hospice palliative care unit, especially Susan MacKenzie and her team, the VON nurses for their wonderful care and compassion, Dr. Ron MacCormick and the Cape Breton Cancer Centre nurses for their compassion and care during his treatments.
There will no visitation by request. A funeral service for Donald will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney.
Family flowers only. Memorial donations can be made to the Hospice Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton or the Cape Breton Cancer Centre. (InMemoriam.ca)
Donald Curnock died of cancer after he had left the service. His cancer was deemed related to his service and his widow was awarded a Memorial Cross.
Ships served in:
In Service of Canada - RCN Peacetime Casualty Index
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